Propensão ao Endividamento no Município de Santa Maria (RS): verificando diferenças em variáveis demográficas e culturais

This study tried to investigate, considering regard the individuals’ possible financial difficulties and the importance of indebtedness for economy, the propensity to indebtedness from inhabitants of Santa Maria (RS), with the aim to know the spending’ profile, as well as demographic and cultural variables related to propensity to indebtedness. We conducted a survey research, having sampled 1,046 respondents. The data has been collected through a structured questionnaire composed by two sections, the first section is related to demographic and social respondents’ variables, and also questions about credit and spending, the second one is related to the propensity to indebtedness. With regard to the analysis of results, descriptive statistics has been used to demographic and cultural variables, and ANOVA analysis to evaluate the differences in average between groups. The comparison between groups have shown difference in propensity to indebtedness in relation to marital status, schooling level, occupation, income, religion, age and spending. It can be observed that most groups with more tendency to indebtedness are single and widowers, with lower schooling level (primary and secondary school), with no occupation, low income, with no religion, young people (until 22 years old) and who spend more than they earn. In general, this study has shown that inhabitants of Santa Maria can be characterized in a more conservative behavior, showing low level to indebtedness