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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.


Information Sharing and SMME Financing in South Africa: A Survey of the Landscape

Information Sharing and SMME Financing in South Africa: A Survey of the Landscape
September 2008
Information Sharing and SMME Financing in South Africa: A Survey of the Landscape

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.

The Impact of Provider- Identifiable Data on Healthcare Quality and Cost

The Impact of Provider- Identifiable Data on Healthcare Quality and Cost
April 2007
The Impact of Provider-Identifiable Data on Healthcare Quality and Cost

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 Fair Credit Reporting Act: Access, Efficiency and Opportunity - Part II

The Fair Credit Reporting Act: Access, Efficiency and Opportunity - Part II
September 2003
The Fair Credit Reporting Act: Access, Efficiency and Opportunity - Part II

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.

Congress Faces Critical Decision About Consumer Credit Legislation (The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 and 1996)

Congress Faces Critical Decision About Consumer Credit Legislation (The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 and 1996)
July 2003

PERC fellow Dr. Joseph Duncan discusses FCRA reauthorization in the Journal of Business Economics. Reprinted with permission from the National Association for Business Economics, 1233 20th St NW, Ste 505, Washington, DC 20036, www.nabe.com.

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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