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Research and Applications

PERC is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding Information Solutions for Development Challenges worldwide. Going beyond the standard think tank model of solely carrying out research and producing reports, our staff develops real-world applications and works with policy makers at all levels to bring about the change we seek.

Find out more: About PERC

Serving the Missing Middle

PERC's mission is to serve the Missing Middle, the almost 4 billion people above the global poverty line who do not have access to affordable mainstream credit, by utilizing a new type of economic development: information-led development.

Find out more: Information-Led Development, Who are the missing middle?

Overcoming the Catch-22

Up to 70 million Americans are excluded from the financial mainstream because of the Credit Catch-22: you need to have a history of debt to get credit. PERC's Alternative Data Initiative has already helped many Americans overcome this Catch-22 and access affordable mainstream credit.

Find out more: Alternative Data Initiative

Smart Disaster Recovery

PERC has developed metrics for the Louisiana Recovery Agency and the World Bank to track small business recovery from natural disasters.

Find out more: Gulf Coast Economic Renewal

Donate to PERC

You can help support PERC's mission of global asset building by donating via Paypal. PERC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of North Carolina. All donations are tax deductible.


Who are the Missing Middle?

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Who are the missing middle?

The missing middle are the estimated 3.9 billion people who are above the global poverty line but are not included in the mainstream credit system. Because they are usually unscorable by traditional credit models, they are forced to rely on high-priced credit. In developed nations, they are likely to be the young, the elderly, ethnic minorities, or women.

Where are the missing middle?

The missing middle are located in every nation in the world. The bulk are in developing nations, though even in advanced economies, substantial numbers of citizens remain excluded from the financial mainstream.

What are the costs of being in the missing middle?

There are real costs associated with being in the missing middle. The main source of asset building for much of the world's population is access to credit, either in the form of buying a home or starting a small business. According to the Brookings Institution, an individual borrower in the United States can save $40,000 to $360,000 over the course of a career by entering the financial mainstream and opening a simple checking or savings account, cutting out high-priced lenders.

How can we incorporate the missing middle in the financial mainstream?

PERC believes in using the power of information to extend affordable credit to the missing middle. In developed countries, this involves increasing the amount of information reported. In developing nations, this involves helping to develop financial infrastructure.

For more information:

Examining the percentage of a population included in a credit bureau gives a rough idea of the distribution of the missing middle. Derived from the IFC’s Doing Business 2009 report, looking at public and private credit bureau coverage.

Asia-Pacific Credit Coalition

APCC is a PERC-managed coalition committed to promoting a regional standard for full-file, comprehensive consumer credit reporting to private credit bureaus within the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies. Please visit PERC's coalition for credit standards in the APEC region, the Asia-Pacific Credit Coalition

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