'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