Credit reporting systems and the international economy Credit reporting systems around the globe Margaret J. Miller Public credit information Tullio Jappelli and Marco Pagano Credit reporting agencies Rowena Olegario Credit information and market performance Kevin Cowan and Jose De Gregorio Private business information exchange in the United States Jarl G. Kallberg and Gregory F. Udell The use of public credit registry information in the estimation of appropriate capital and provisioning requirements Michael Falkenheim and Andrew Powell Relationship lending in the Argentine small business credit market Allen N. Berger [and others] The value of comprehensive credit reports John M. Barron and Michael Staten Privacy restrictions and the use of data at credit registries Raphael W. Bostic and Paul S. Calem Segmentation and the use of information in Brazilian Credit markets Armando Castelar Pinheiro and Alkimar Moura Regulation of personal data protection and of credit reporting firms Rafael del Villar Alejandro Diaz de Leon and Johanna Gil Hubert. This book provides the first comprehensive review of credit reporting systems worldwide and documents the rapid growth in the industry. It offers empirical and theoretical evidence of the impact of credit reporting on financial markets using examples from both developed and developing economies. Credit reporting it shows significantly contributes to predicting default risk of potential borrowers which promotes increased lending activity. The book also covers the role of public policy in the development of credit reporting initiatives including the role of public credit registries managed by central banks; and the role of legal regulatory and institutional factors in supporting credit reporting. Jacket Credit reporting is a critical part of the financial system in most developed economies but is often weak or absent in developing countries. It addresses a fundamental problem of credit markets: asymmetric information between borrowers and lenders that can lead to adverse selection and moral hazard. The heart of a credit report is the record it provides of an individuals or a firms payment history which enables lenders to evaluate credit risk more accurately and lower loan processing time and costs. Credit reports also strengthen borrower discipline since nonpayment with one institution results in sanctions with others.