Combining Geographical Information Systems and Input-Output Models : Concept and Initial Ideas

Since the initial input-output (i-o) models conceived by Leontief in the 1930's, the input-output theory has gone through a lot of development at the theoretical as well as applied point of view. However, despite all the progress, there are two points that need further consideration into the analysis, one is with respect to an easy visualization of the information contained in an i-o system and another is related to the spatial dimension of the data. We do not mean that these topics have not been dealt with before, but, here both are combined in a single analysis where the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are use to map and to visualize the i-o models. The data used to illustrate the initial concepts is based in the interregional i-o matrix constructed for six macro regions (Northeast, North, Central West, São Paulo, Rest of the Southeast, and South) of the Brazilian economy for the year of 1999 by Guilhoto et al (2003). The initial applications and analysis are done: a) with the i-o matrix in value terms; and b) with an estimation of impacts on total production, giving changes in the final demand of the households. However, new windows of analysis are open as this information can be combined with models of transportation, spatial data analysis, etc