Nvm it got dismantled by various people who use nightlight metrics for living. NBER also did a sophisticated night lights study of PRC in 2017 - same year as OG Martinez study using naive methodology as Henderson original work from early 2010s - and found PRC's reported GDP was actually _underestimated_ using night light data. But useful idiots will gobble up authoritarian gov inflate narrative.
For obvious reasons this study by multiple staff economists at the FED doesn't get any attention in western MSM, but one by an assistant prof of public policy somehow does. Also note scope, multiple staff economics focusing on PRC, versus assist prof who managed to collate data for every country. Almost as if it's good self marketing considering Martinez keeps updating study with same rudimentary methodology every few years to get clicks.
E: I'm guessing this is now going to make rounds with the Shih/Elkobi's 1/3 of PRC local gov spending all their revenue on debt repayment wank graph being popularized recently that's comparably retarded.