We show that a σ-algebra 𝔹 carries a strictly positive continuous submeasure if and only if 𝔹 is weakly distributive and it satisfies the σ-finite chain condition of Horn and Tarski.
@article{bwmeta1.element.bwnjournal-article-doi-10_4064-fm183-2-7, author = {Stevo Todorcevic}, title = {A problem of von Neumann and Maharam about algebras supporting continuous submeasures}, journal = {Fundamenta Mathematicae}, volume = {184}, year = {2004}, pages = {169-183}, zbl = {1071.28004}, language = {en}, url = {http://dml.mathdoc.fr/item/bwmeta1.element.bwnjournal-article-doi-10_4064-fm183-2-7} }
Stevo Todorcevic. A problem of von Neumann and Maharam about algebras supporting continuous submeasures. Fundamenta Mathematicae, Tome 184 (2004) pp. 169-183. http://gdmltest.u-ga.fr/item/bwmeta1.element.bwnjournal-article-doi-10_4064-fm183-2-7/