Week of June 15, 2015

1. Alternative Credit Scoring: In a new working paper, researchers analyze consumer call data from a Caribbean mobile money provider and are able to predict the likelihood of loan default with accuracy similar to credit scoring models that rely on previous financial history. Brown University - Department of Economics

2. Consumer Lending: After 146 years of financing the 1%, Goldman Sachs announced it will venture into consumer (and potentially small business) lending. The New York Times

3. Mobile Money: The prevalence of over-the-counter (OTC) mobile money services in Pakistan means providers are no longer battling for market share among customers but for loyalty of agents. NextBillion

4. Remittances: Europe constitutes just 10% of the world's population, but is home to 20% of all migrant workers and is the source of 25% of all remittance flows worldwide, according to a new report. IFAD

5. Philanthropy: The Ford Foundation (one of the funders of the US Financial Diaries project) announced an overhaul of its strategic funding priorities. Ford will now direct all of its money to reducing financial, racial, gender, and other inequalities as well as doubling the amount it gives in unrestricted operating support for organizations. The Chronicle of Philanthropy
 

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