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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.


Dec 13, 2007 - Washington, DC

Dr. Robin Varghese presented at the Federal Reserve Board’s Credit Scoring Forum in Washington, DC.

Dec 4, 2007 - Chicago, IL

Dr. Michael Turner will be moderating a panel on the use of non-traditional data in credit files at the National Training and Information Center’s Housing and Banking Summit.

Oct 18-19, 2007 - Washington, DC

Dr. Turner will be at the Brookings Institution UMI to give a presentation on the use of alternative data in credit files.

Oct 16, 2007 - Philadelphia, PA

Patrick Walker will moderate a panel on alternative credit data at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s conference, “Innovative Financial Tools for Serving the Underserved.”

Oct 15-16, 2007 - Sonoma, CA

At InfoCentricity’s third annual Xeno Users’ Exchange, Dr. Turner will give a presentation on alternative data.

Oct 10-11, 2007 - Indianapolis, IN

At a risk management meeting of the American Gas Association, PERC Fellow Patrick Walker will discuss how reporting customer data to consumer reporting agencies can help utility companies reduce arrearages while assisting lower income customers build a positive credit history.

Oct 8-9, 2007 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

he UNC’s Center for Community Capitalism statewide conference on Asset Building and Financial Literacy. Patrick Walker will discuss the potential be

Oct 8-12, 2007 - São Paulo, Brazil

Dr. Turner and Dr. Robin Varghese will present PERC’s new study on Brazilian credit reporting to regulators, government officials, academics, and the media in Brasilia and São Paulo.

Sep 28, 2007 - New Orleans, Louisiana

As the keynote speaker at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly luncheon, Dr. Michael Turner will discuss specific demographic findings in the PERC report Recovery, Renewal, and Resiliency: Gulf Coast Small Businesses Two Years Later.

Sep 18-19, 2007 - Washington, DC

At the World Bank offices, a two day conference-“Gaining scale in microfinance”-held by WB/ IFC/ CGAP and VISA, will will focus on microfinance, credit reporting and the use of new technologies to improve the microfinance industry. PERC president, Dr. Michael Turner, will overview PERC’s research into the areas of credit reporting and the use of technologies, such as credit scoring, for the purposes of increasing access to credit.

Aug 29, 2007 - New Orleans, Louisiana

At the Pan American Life Insurance Building in New Orleans, Dr. Michael Turner will release the preliminary findings of a PERC phone survey of small business owners in the Katrina recovery areas as part of an ongoing, two-year long project designed to quantify the economic well-being of Gulf Coast residents, communities, and small businesses.

Aug 15, 2007 - New Orleans, LA

At the Fair Isaac Small Business and Consumer Lending Conference, Dr. Turner will discuss issues relating to small business credit access.

Jul 11-13, 2007 - Chicago, IL

Risk Management Association. At the Retail Risk Conference Dr. Turner will topline key findings from PERC’s alternative data work and broadly discuss ways financial companies can expand into untapped markets.

Jul 11-13, 2007 - Chicago, IL

Risk Management Association. At the Retail Risk Conference Dr. Turner will topline key findings from PERC’s alternative data work and broadly discuss ways financial companies can expand into untapped markets.

Jun 10, 2007 - Dallas, TX

Center for Financial Services Innovation. At the 2nd Annual Underbanked Financial Services Forum Dr. Turner will present results from the landmark PERC/Brookings UMI study “Give Credit Where Credit is Due” and preview findings from their ongoing work on the topic of alternative data and alternative scoring.

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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