Hodler, RolandRolandHodlerRaschky, PaulPaulRaschky2023-04-132023-04-132014-05-28https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/86925Political leaders sometimes favour their preferred regions. This column looks at regional favouritism in a large sample of countries, using information on the birthplaces of political leaders and nighttime light intensity. Being the current leader's birth region increases nighttime light intensity by around 4%, and GDP by around 1%. Such favouritism is most prevalent in countries with weak political institutions and poorly educated citizens.enregional favouritismnighttime light