[...] * Alternative metrics and datasets can be used to identify early warning signs at an earlier stage and lower costs helping to better understanding causal links. In this respect, there should be a clear effort to use the data available at the real Big Data owners and merchants - Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple. The big corporations should to pay their taxes in data - not just with cash. Regarding alternative metrics, the research departments at Microsoft and Google have made significant advances in this area (see Stephens-Davidowitz, available at http://sethsd.com)