A financeirização da velhice e a convergência entre Estado e mercado

Abstract

In contemporary capitalism, debt assumes the centrality of the system’s dynamics within what is called the financialization of the economy. Within this line of analysis, categories such as “financialization of care” or “financialization of old age” emerge as explanatory forms of the elderly person’s indebtedness process, above all, to cover long-term care expenses or health expenses. This article analyzes this phenomenon based on three debt factors: health, care and a specific kind of credit in Brazil (payroll loans). The conclusion is that social protection tends to be delegated to the financial market and this increases the risk of debt and expropriation. The interest of the article is to explore how this situation is perceived by retirees and pensioners.