Superendividamento das famílias: um estudo sobre possíveis determinantes

Abstract

It is estimated that 76.6% of Brazilian households are affected by indebtedness, and several factors may explain this phenomenon. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the potential determinants that lead households to over-indebtedness. To address the research question, data were collected through a survey research design using a structured questionnaire comprising 35 items administered to individuals experiencing over-indebtedness who had participated or were currently participating in services provided by the Over-Indebtedness Support Center (Núcleo de Apoio ao Superendividado – NAS) at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). The questionnaire included questions addressing consumption habits, socioeconomic characteristics, coping strategies adopted after recognizing indebtedness, and respondents' level of financial literacy. The findings indicate that the primary determinants of over-indebtedness are unexpected expenses and inadequate financial management, highlighting the critical role of financial planning in decision-making processes. Payroll-deductible loans were perceived by many respondents as a solution to their financial obligations; however, due to deficient financial management, this strategy failed to alleviate indebtedness and instead contributed to its escalation. Among the respondents, 80% reported being severely indebted, 50% only became aware of the seriousness of their financial situation when they needed to resort to bank loans, and 56.7% identified expenditure reduction as their immediate strategy to mitigate indebtedness. Furthermore, the findings suggest that over-indebtedness cannot be explained solely by rational financial behavior, as respondents also emphasized the influence of emotional self-regulation issues and personal difficulties that contributed to the loss of financial control.