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

October 13, 2026

Financial Access Initiative

The Swarm Edition

Editor’s Note: I’m going to assume that you are seeing plenty of AI content (news and papers, not AI slop, though I’m sure you’re getting plenty of that too) from other sources, so I’m trying to think hard about the marginal value that the faiV can provide. As far as I’ve gotten so far: a) make sure that directly AI-related content does not take up more than 2 of the 5 items, and b) try to focus specifically on the cybersecurity issue for financial inclusion. Beyond that, I’m open to feedback on the value you get from the faiV in relation to AI to help guide us in the future. On a different note, I’ll be making a brief cameo appearance at the e-MFP Inclusive Finance Conference to moderate the opening plenary. If you haven’t registered, do so and I hope to see you there! - Tim Ogden

October 6, 2026

Laura Freschi

Rereading Michael Kremer

Ten years ago, FAI managing director Tim Ogden published Experimental Conversations, a collection of interviews with economists and other people who critique, promote, and use randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in development economics. One of the interviewees was Michael Kremer, a pioneer of the movement, now a Nobel laureate, and recently appointed Chief Economist of the World Bank.

August 13, 2026

The Massive DDoS Edition

Editor's Note:

If you were hoping that the faiV would be a pleasant distraction from the overwhelming flow of AI-related content, sorry. For the record, the faiV had “ai” built in before Anthropic existed. And a housekeeping note: we’ve finally jumped ship from Mailchimp to NYU’s mailing platform—I guess if you’re reading this it’s been a seamless transition and if you’re not, well, you’re not. Feedback on the faiV’s content and format and delivery methods is always welcome, just drop me an email.

- Tim Ogden

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