Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Part I: Central Themes of Rural Second Homes -- 1. Introduction -- Introduction -- Aims of the Book -- Past Literature and Themes -- Concepts and Data Sources -- Information on Second Homes -- 2. The Origins of Growth -- The Origins and Social Context of Growth -- 3. Ownership and Demand -- Introduction -- The Distribution of Demand -- Second Home Types -- Modelling Future Growth -- Modelling and Prediction -- 4. Economic Costs and Benefits -- The Analysis of Costs and Benefits -- House Price Inflation -- Initial Acquisition -- Property Speculation -- General Housing Stock Improvements -- General Expenditure -- Rates or Council Tax Contribution -- The Overall Contribution -- 5. Environmental and Social Impacts -- The Range of Environmental Impacts -- New Development and Conversion -- Social Impacts -- Competing Housing Groups -- Social Impacts, Social Groups and Attitudinal Research -- Community Unease and Socio-Linguistic Concerns -- Conclusions -- Part II: Policy and Practical Responses in Europe and the United Kingdom -- 6. European Perspectives -- Introduction -- Facts Through Figures -- Belgium -- Denmark -- Finland -- France -- Greece -- Spain -- Sweden -- Norway -- Other European States -- 7. Housing Policy Responses in the UK -- Economic and Social Development -- Housing Policy Options -- Providing Non-Market Housing -- 'Municipalising' Empty Properties -- Managing Private Properties -- Community Self-Build -- Improvement Grant Restrictions -- The Tax System -- Differential Rates or Council Tax -- Standard Purchase Levies and Restrictions on Mortgage Finance -- Property Licensing and the Creation of Housing Sub-Markets -- Planning and Development Control -- New Development and Occupancy Controls