Indebtedness and Debt Slavery in Croatia

Hrvatska je suočena s problemom visoke zaduženosti građana koji lako mogu upasti u prezaduženost, odnosno dužničko ropstvo. Ova je tema slabo zastupljena u radovima stručnih autora, iako za nju postoji veliki interes nekih skupina i samih pogođenih građana. Cilj ovog rada je doprinijeti podizanju svijesti o problemu visoke zaduženosti građana Hrvatske i ukazati na važnost ovog pitanja za cijelu javnost. Rad obuhvaća problem zaduženosti od njegovih korijena, odnosno uzroka, do posljedica za građane. Pokazalo se da su različiti putevi koji vode u zaduženost, a ona može imati velike posljedice na pogođenu osobu ili kućanstvo. Upravo ta činjenica ukazuje na potrebu intervencije od strane države na već postojeći problem, ali i nužne prevencije povećanja broja prezaduženih građana RH.Abstract: Croatia is faced with the problem of high indebtedness of its citizens, which can easily lead to personal over-indebtedness or debt slavery. This theme is poorly represented in the work of professional authors, although there is a great interest for some groups and affected citizens. The aim of this paper is to contribute to raising awareness of the problem of over-indebtedness of Croatian citizens and pointing out the importance of this issue to the entire public. The paper encompasses the problem of over-indebtedness from its roots, or causes, through the consequences for citizens. It has been shown that there are different pathways leading to presumption, and that can have major consequences for the affected person or household. This fact points to the need for intervention by the state on the already existing problem, but also the necessary preventive measures to increase the number of over-indebted citizens of the Republic of Croatia