This report assesses the accuracy and quality of data collected and maintained by the three major nationwide Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs): Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The study enabled consumers to review their credit reports and credit scores from one or more of the three CRAs, to identify potential inaccuracies, and to file disputes as necessary through the consumer dispute resolution process governed by the FCRA, and to report on their satisfaction with the dispute outcome.  The impact of the disputes is measured through credit score and credit risk tier changes.

This report examines the continuing impact of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters on small businesses and the self-employed in Louisiana. Primary to this research was an examination of the impacts of aid received from the Community Development Organizations (CDOs) funded in part by the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF) as well as aid received from other sources. It also examines the extent of existing unmet needs of small businesses in Louisiana. For this research PERC surveyed over 1,600 small business operators and analyzed data from tens of thousands of Experian small business credit files.

This report examines five cases of small businesses and the self-employed that received small business aid from an LDRF funded Community Development Organization (CDO).

PERC was commissioned by the OECD to write a white paper on the economic value of personal financial data for a roundtable on the current environment for protecting privacy with a focus on the economic dimension. PERC’s white paper discusses how broader information-sharing backed by consumer rights has promoted efficiency and inclusion while maintaining and protecting confidentiality. It represents one of the first attempts to examine data sharing from the perspective of economic consequences. While the Fair Information Principles were disseminated 30 years ago, these guidelines have been understood largely in terms of privacy with little attention paid to the economic impacts of different information sharing systems.  The white paper, relying on PERC research, as well as similar research by others, introduces policymakers to the effects of variations in financial information sharing. 

This policy brief, a white paper produced for the APCC in April 2010, examines the logic of information sharing as it relates to financial inclusion and suggests some policy concerns and policy targets designed to promote a financial inclusion agenda.

This paper examines the relationship between market structures and regulatory framework of the credit information sharing, and the performance of the financial sector.

This study examines the impact and benefits that accrue to consumers, lenders, and utilities and telecommunications firms when telecoms and utilities report customer payment information to credit bureaus.

PERC's Roadmap to Reform details the benefits of comprehensive credit reporting, as well as detailing transitional challenges of switching to a full-file system.

This report focuses on the current state of credit access for small, medium, and micro-enterprises in South Africa. In particular, it examines barriers to credit access and viable near-term solutions to reduce or eliminate those barriers.

This report sheds additional light on the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the storms of 2005 on individuals, businesses, and communities of the Gulf Coast, using datasets previously not used for such purposes.

A follow-up to PERC's ground-breaking report on alternative data, this study examines the long-term effects of using non-traditional data in credit files using quantitative analysis.

This white-paper, produced for the Asia-Pacific Credit Coalition, outlines recent developments in the economic impact of information sharing in consumer credit markets.

As the Brazilian congress weighs its options, we survey and analyze the more comprehensive and systematic of the studies to detail important lessons to consider on the eve of credit reporting reform in Brazil.

The first PERC survey of small businesses in New Orleans and other FEMA-declared disaster areas in the wake of the 2005 hurricanes finds disparate impacts among different segments of business owners. The results also yield insights into the efficacy of existing recovery policy, and identify policy shortcomings and unmet needs.

The study assesses the impact of varying participation rates on access to credit and default rates in Latin America. A series of micro-simulations demonstrates the importance of participation in a private, full-file credit reporting system.

This study examines the uses of provider-identifiable data within the US healthcare system with particular emphasis on the impact of the commercial use of this data on the market for prescription drugs. Impacts on market structure, the operation of the market, and other non-economic variables are also addressed. Additionally, the study explores the role of these data in regulatory compliance and public research.

The study compares the fragmented Japanese consumer credit reporting regime with a hypothetical comprehensive one. Impacts of the varying regimes — each with different types and amounts of payment information available to creditors — upon access to credit and default rates, growth in lending to the private sector and overall economic growth are examined.

PERC’s landmark study on bringing the estimated 35 to 54 million Americans outside the mainstream credit system into the credit fold, Give Credit Where Credit Is Due offers feasible market solutions involving “alternative” or non-traditional payment data, such as payment obligations such as rent, gas, electric, insurance, and other recurring obligations, to evaluate the risk profile of a potential borrower.

PERC’s initial study on alternative data, Giving Underserved Consumers Better Access to the Credit System examines the likely win-win outcome if non-traditional data is included in credit files.

This study is an assessment of personal data privacy and security in business process outsourcing firms in India.

This study confirms the findings of the initial FCRA study. It examines degradation in predictive power of a generic commercial scoring model, even when that model is “re-optimized” or“retooled” to account for the simulated data restrictions.