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Publications
  • 2015
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

Big Data and Big Cities: The Promises and Limitations of Improved Measures of Urban Life

By: Edward L. Glaeser, Scott Duke Kominers, Michael Luca and Nikhil Naik
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:38
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Abstract

New, "big" data sources allow measurement of city characteristics and outcome variables at higher frequencies and finer geographic scales than ever before. However, big data will not solve large urban social science questions on its own. Big data has the most value for the study of cities when it allows measurement of the previously opaque, or when it can be coupled with exogenous shocks to people or place. We describe a number of new urban data sources and illustrate how they can be used to improve the study and function of cities. We first show how Google Street View images can be used to predict income in New York City, suggesting that similar image data can be used to map wealth and poverty in previously unmeasured areas of the developing world. We then discuss how survey techniques can be improved to better measure willingness to pay for urban amenities. Finally, we explain how Internet data is being used to improve the quality of city services.

Keywords

Analytics and Data Science; Urban Scope; City

Citation

Glaeser, Edward L., Scott Duke Kominers, Michael Luca, and Nikhil Naik. "Big Data and Big Cities: The Promises and Limitations of Improved Measures of Urban Life." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 16-065, November 2015.
  • SSRN
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About The Authors

Scott Duke Kominers

Entrepreneurial Management
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Michael Luca

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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  • A New NFT Launch Strategy: The Wave Mint By: Scott Duke Kominers and 1337 Skulls Sers
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