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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.


Publications

The Economic Consequences of Credit Information Sharing

The Economic Consequences of Credit Information Sharing
December 2010
PERC OECD Paper

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. 

Michael A. Turner, Ph.D., Robin Varghese, Ph.D., Patrick Walker, M.A.
OECD Info Sharing White Paper FINAL_rv_110210.pdf

Financial Inclusion through Credit Reporting: Hurdles and Solutions

Financial Inclusion through Credit Reporting: Hurdles and Solutions
April 2010
Financial Inclusion Cover Image

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.

Robin Varghese, Ph.D.
Financial_Inclusion_Through_Credit_Reporting_Hurdles_and_Solutions_PERC.pdf
Financial Inclusion Through Credit Reporting.jpg- Chinese

The Consequences of Prohibiting Credit Inquiry Data in Chilean Credit Files

The Consequences of Prohibiting Credit Inquiry Data in Chilean Credit Files
February 2010

This paper assesses the consequences of proposed Chilean legislation to prohibit the sharing of credit inquiry data.

Michael A. Turner, Ph.D.
Credit Access
Chile White Paper_web.pdf
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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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