THE CRITICAL QUESTION

Humans have been collecting data for several thousand years. In 3000 BC, Mesopotamians recorded inventory details in cuneiform. Today's society transmits exabytes of data every day as billions of people and millions of organizations manage their affairs. As Table 1 illustrates, the dominant issue facing each type of economy has changed over time, and the collection and use of data has evolved to reflect these concerns. Let's examine various economies and the critical question each faces.