Federated statistical databases - The next generation of statistical databases for statistical offices and businesses

We consider information and communication systems which are characterized by global as well as local transactions. We assume that such a system is geographically (or even politically) distributed and each site keeps its autonomy. The local systems are heterogeneous with respect to hardware, software and database model. A typical example is the national statistical offices of the European Union and supranational authorities like the OECD, Paris, and Eurostat, Luxembourg. In order to improve interoperability, we vote for a federated database system.