Introduction

I examine the economic and policy issues of cities and regions, with particular attention to their spatial dimensions. My research utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The strength of GIS lies not only in its ability to visualize spatial information, but also in its capacity to process, create, and analyze spatial data. I have also been engaged in the development of GIS teaching materials and education, and have published works such as the Introduction to GIS for Economic and Policy Analysis series (Kokon Shoin).

■ Urban and Regional Economic Analysis Utilizing GIS
・Kawabata, M., Naoi, M., Yasuda, S. (2022) “Earthquake risk reduction and residential land prices in Tokyo.” Journal of Spatial Econometrics, 3. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s43071-022-00020-z)
・Kawabata, M., Abe, Y. (2018) “Intra-metropolitan spatial patterns of female labor force participation and commute times in Tokyo.” Regional Science and Urban Economics, 68: 291-303. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2017.11.003)
■GIS Education
Kawabata, M. (Ed.) (2025) Introduction to GIS for Economic and Policy Analysis 2［Second Edition］ Spatial Statistics Tools and High-Precision Geospatial Information, with ArcGIS Pro and QGIS, Kokon Shoin Publishers, 2025.04
・Online GIS Educational Materials（https://sites.google.com/view/gis-online-learning/）

Areas of Research

・Economic policy

Social Contributions

・My research promotes the understanding and resolution of economic and policy issues faced by cities and regions by integrating GIS with spatial statistics and econometrics.
・It also contributes to human resource development through the creation of GIS teaching materials and educational activities.
・I develop methods for economic and policy analysis using GIS and spatial data, contributing to the resolution of real-world policy challenges such as urban disaster prevention, the development of childcare facilities, support for women's employment, and improving access to job opportunities.