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.