Call for Papers : International Conference on Real Estate Statistics 2026

International Conference on Real Estate Statistics 2026
Date: February 19-20, 2026 (Pre-event February 18)| Tokyo, Japan
Hosted by: International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bank for International Settlements (BIS) / Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics (IFC), Eurostat, OECD, Bank of Japan, and Hitotsubashi University

Co-organizers: Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan.

Website: https://cures.hias.hit-u.ac.jp/en/event/international-conference-on-real-estate-statistics-2026/

Objectives of the Conference

This conference is organized as a direct continuation of the International Conference on Real Estate Statistics hosted by Eurostat in Luxembourg in 2019. The 2019 conference provided a comprehensive overview of both residential and commercial real estate statistics, covering methodological developments, data sources, and the use of real estate indicators for policy purposes. The sessions addressed key issues such as the construction of Commercial Property Price Indices (CPPI), challenges in Residential Property Price Indices (RPPI), the relationship of real estate indicators with macroeconomic statistics such as CPI and SNA, and the role of international cooperation under the G20 Data Gaps Initiative (DGI). Discussions also highlighted the importance of combining official statistics with private data, leveraging big data and digital innovation, and strengthening the comparability of real estate indicators across countries.

Building on the achievements and lessons from the 2019 conference, the 2026 International Conference on Real Estate Statistics will further deepen these discussions while also exploring new and emerging challenges. The sessions will cover a broad range of topics, including the current state and challenges of RPPIs and CPPIs, their integration into CPI and SNA, international cooperation and the progress of official statistics, as well as issues related to data sources, big data, digitalization, and innovation. In addition, the conference will introduce new perspectives by addressing the role of real estate statistics in the transition to a sustainable, environmentally conscious society and by examining their links to broader well-being indicators.

The ultimate goal of the 2026 conference is not only to consolidate the progress achieved so far but also to set the agenda for the next phase of international collaboration on real estate statistics. By bringing together statistical offices, international organizations, central banks, policymakers, academia and data providers, this meeting will pave the way toward the next international conference, ensuring continuous development of high-quality, comparable, and policy-relevant real estate statistics.

Topics of Interest

We invite submissions that address methodological, empirical, and policy issues in the field of real estate statistics, including but not limited to:

1: RPPI – Country Practices and Challenges

Country case studies on residential property price index compilation. Focus on key challenges including periodicity (monthly vs quarterly), timeliness of release, and weighting methods (especially asking price–based indices). The session will highlight practical issues faced by national statistical offices and central banks, and discuss ongoing international initiatives.

2: RPPI – Data, Coverage, and Comparability

Discussion of data sources and coverage issues for residential property price indices, as well as approaches to improving cross-country comparability. Methodological perspectives on quality adjustment and chain drift will be considered.

3: CPPI – Country Practices and Challenges

Country practices in compiling commercial property price indices, with emphasis on institutional and market-specific difficulties. The session will consider issues of representativeness, valuation methods, and the heterogeneity of commercial real estate markets.

4: CPPI – Data, Coverage, and Comparability

Exploration of data sources and methodological solutions to enhance coverage and comparability of commercial property price indices, with reference to academic research and policy needs.

5: Data Sources, Big Data, and Innovation

This Topic will showcase innovative data sources (big data, administrative records, and private sector datasets) and methods for real estate price indices. Building on the challenges discussed in Topic 2, it will also explore solutions to issues of periodicity, timeliness, and weighting, drawing on Robert Hill’s work and other recent international experiences.

6: Methodological Innovations: Real estate price indices and their integration into broader price statistics (CPI, SNA)

Discussion of methodological advances in index number theory and practice. Focus on how real estate price indices can be integrated into CPI and national accounts (SNA), ensuring consistency across statistical domains. Indirect links will be made to challenges such as periodicity, timeliness, and weighting, and their implications for methodological comparability.

7: Emerging Challenges – Sustainability & Well-being

Exploration of new frontiers in real estate price statistics, including the integration of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and broader well-being indicators into index measurement frameworks.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstract length: Up to 500 words
• Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts or full papers addressing any of the conference themes
• Full papers are strongly encouraged, as they enrich the discussion and documentation of the conference; however, this is not mandatory
• Preference will be given to submissions from central banks, national statistical offices, and international organizations
• Submit your abstract using the following online form: (https://forms.gle/Zrrn9tVi9vehraYt9)

Important Dates

• Friday, October 10, 2025: Call for Papers issued
• Friday, November 28, 2025: Submission deadline
• Friday, December 19, 2025: Notification of acceptance
• January 2026: Final program confirmed
• February 19–20, 2026: Conference in Tokyo

Venue

Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo, Japan

Shinagawa Prince Hotel – Official website

Organizers

• Chihiro Shimizu – Hitotsubashi University (Chair)
• Barra Casey – International Monetary Fund
• Bruno Tissot – Bank for International Settlements, Irving Fisher Committee (IFC)
• Kimiaki Shinozaki – Bank of Japan

Program Committee

• Niall O’Hanlon – International Monetary Fund
• Bianca Ligani – Bank for International Settlements
• Annabelle Mourougane – OECD
• Rui Evangelista – Eurostat
• Naohito Abe – Hitotsubashi University
• Miho Kitama – Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism , Japan
• Erwin Diewert – University of British Columbia and Hitotsubashi University
• Paul Schreyer – EsCOE and Hitotsubashi University
• Robert Hill – University of Graz and and Hitotsubashi University
• Miriam Sterer – University of Graz
• Marc Francke – University of Amsterdam and Hitotsubashi University
• Franz Fuerst – University of Cambridge
• Kelvin Wong – University of Hong Kong
• Satoru Hagino – Reitaku University, Cabinet Office and Hitotsubashi University

Participation

There is no conference fee for attending the International Conference on Real Estate Statistics 2026. However, participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Contact

For inquiries: realestate2026@edu.sds.hit-u.ac.jp

We strongly encourage broad participation from practitioners, policymakers, and researchers worldwide, and we look forward to receiving many high-quality submissions.