https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/09/29/a-study-of-lights-at-night-suggests-dictators-lie-about-economic-growth The Economist The Economist Subscribe --------------------------------------------------------------------- Enterprise --------------------------------------------------------------------- Log in --------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu The Economist The Economist Skip to content Subscribe --------------------------------------------------------------------- Enterprise --------------------------------------------------------------------- Log in --------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu --------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [20250] The world in brief Catch up on global daily news [20250] 1843 Compelling long reads [20250] Podcasts Tune into captivating conversations [20250] Video Watch engaging short films [20250] Newsletters Curated news, direct to your inbox Current topics * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * Climate change * Geopolitics * The world economy * Artificial intelligence * Trump approval tracker Current topics * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * Climate change * Geopolitics * The world economy * Artificial intelligence * Trump approval tracker World World * The world this week * China * United States * Europe * Britain * Middle East * Africa * Asia * The Americas * International Business & economics Business & economics * Business * Finance & economics * Big Mac index * Economic & financial indicators Opinion Opinion * Leaders * Columns * By Invitation * Letters to the editor In depth In depth * Science & technology * Briefing * Graphic detail * Interactives * The Economist explains * Special reports * Technology Quarterly * Essay * Schools brief Culture & society Culture & society * Culture * The Economist reads * Obituary * Games Weekly edition Weekly edition * This week * Past editions Our A-to-Zs Our A-to-Zs * Economics * American politics * Military terms * International relations * Weekly edition * The world in brief * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * United States * The world economy * Business * Artificial intelligence * Archive 1945 * Games undefined undefined --------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Economist Unlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newsletters Subscribe to The Economist Unlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newsletters Subscribe --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Manage account * Log out * Manage account * Log out Graphic detail | Shining light on lies A study of lights at night suggests dictators lie about economic growth Satellite data hints at the scale of their deception Share Sep 29th 2022|3 min read Benito Mussolini was a tyrant, but at least he made the trains run on time. Or so the story goes. Dictators are often seen as ruthless but effective. Official GDP figures support this view. Since 2002 average reported economic growth in autocracies has been twice as fast as in democracies. This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline "Shining light on lies" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Graphic detail October 1st 2022 * -A study of lights at night suggests dictators lie about economic growth The Prince From the October 1st 2022 edition Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents =Explore the edition --------------------------------------------------------------------- ShareReuse this content --------------------------------------------------------------------- More from Graphic detail [20250802_WOT921] Satellite images show how receiving aid in Gaza became so deadly Hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli gunfire and in crushes while trying to collect food [20250726_WOT406] Catholics are more liberal than you might think Our polling shows a majority would like the church to change with the times --------------------------------------------------------------------- [20250726_WOT917] Russian sabotage attacks surged across Europe in 2024 This year's apparent lull may be the calm before another storm --------------------------------------------------------------------- What is the richest country in the world in 2025? 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