Can BEA data be linked to data from commercial data sets like those of Standard and Poor’s or Bureau van Dijk?

Yes, but researchers must create or provide their own ID bridges to those data sets and must have access to those data sets, usually through their home academic institutions. BEA business confidential data accessed through the Special Sworn Researcher Program cannot be commingled with databases that contain company-specific information if the resulting combined data set would contain information beyond the scope of the data items collected in BEA's surveys. Please see Crosswalks Involving BEA Microdata for more information.