The problem, I think, is that the US credit rating system is formalised. As far as I know, in most countries your creditworthiness is secret information which t

The problem, I think, is that the US credit rating system is formalised. As far as I know, in most countries your creditworthiness is secret information which the banks may or may not pass among themselves. In the US it's all wrapped up in a three-digit number which anyone can access -- this means that other indications of creditworthiness tend not to be taken into account. Come to think of it, the overreliance on the number could be another consequence of the US's obsession with race: if your bank takes anything into account except the magical number then you leave yourself open to a racial discimination lawsuit. Oh yeah, and the third problem is that most adults without credit histories seem to be illegal immigrants, who make very little money and can vanish at any time. There are so many illegal immigrants in the legal immigrants are a tiny afterthought.