Due to differences in legal systems and business environments, it is difficult to compare the process of buying and selling land in different European countries. Illustrated by a range of case studies, this book discusses the problems of this and similar comparisons.

Contents: Cadastre, Law and Economics: Modelling real property transactions, Erik Stubkjœr; Aspects of real property rights and their alteration, Hans Mattsson; Real estate: foundations of the ontology of property, Leo Zaibert and Barry Smith. Requirements and National Perspectives: Purchase of real property in Finland, Kauko Viitanen; Property transactions in the UK: a situation of institutional stability or technical change?, Robert Dixon-Gough and Mark Deakin; Land tenure and real property transaction types in Latvia, Armands Auzins. Ontological Modelling: Modelling real estate transactions: the potential role of ontologies, Ubbo Visser and Christoph Schlieder; A tool-supported methodology for ontology-based knowledge management, York Sure; Building a foundation for ontologies of organizations, Chris Partridge and Milena Stefanova. Systems Engineering: Conceptual modelling of cadastral information system structures, Rados Sumrada; Ontology construction for geographic data set integration, Harry Uitermark; Glossary; Index.

'This book presents the fruits of an ongoing research project that contributes towards a better understanding of property rights systems, an essential ingredient of economic development. To compare real estate transactions across different legal systems, the book presents an innovative method that aims to enhance comparability by examining the common 'ontology' of such transactions, and shows its potential by applying it to a diverse set of European cases.' Dr. Benito Arruñada, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona