Noční osvětlení jako ukazatel regionálního rozvoje v Číně

This thesis examines the use of nighttime light intensity as a proxy for regional economic development in China. By combining satellite data from DMSP and VIIRS with official statistics such as Gross Regional Product (GRP), the study analyzes spatial patterns of economic activity and regional inequality from 1992 to 2024. The empirical results show a strong positive but non-linear relationship between nighttime lights and economic output. While nighttime lights provide valuable insights into urbanization and infrastructure development, they capture broader structural factors rather than economic activity alone. The findings suggest that nighttime lights are a useful complementary indicator for analyzing regional development, especially where traditional data are limited.