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No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAODJALMAJUNIOR.pdf: 1179979 bytes, checksum: 843d441d9d359cfe9847bb3245d84f8e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-22 / A presente dissertação busca, por meio de uma abordagem crítica e interdisciplinar, contextualizar a atual crise capitalista de superprodução como uma causa remota do superendividamento do consumidor, enfatizando a urgente necessidade de se construir um arcabouço jurídico em favor do superendividado no Brasil, a fim de que ele possa se desvencilhar dos débitos e ser reinserido no mercado de consumo. A grande questão que norteia este trabalho é saber quem (ou o quê) é o verdadeiro tutelado da almejada proteção legislativa: o próprio cidadão, que teria a sua dignidade restabelecida pela nova condição de solvência e contaria com uma segunda chance para, aprendendo com os erros passados, agir de modo diferente, ou o capital, cujo fluxo até então estagnado voltaria a circular com fluidez em busca da sua infinita expansão lucrativa. Com arrimo na economia política, é empreendida uma análise da teoria do valor, para demonstrar a maior contradição interna do capital, que, na busca da máxima racionalização do processo produtivo com a menor quantidade de trabalho humano, diminuiu os empregos e solapou a renda da população, impossibilitando-a de adquirir as mercadorias produzidas em excesso. Apenas vislumbrando saída para a aludida crise por meio da explosão do consumo, mas à míngua de poder aquisitivo real para tanto, a concessão massiva e indiscriminada do crédito - espécie de capital fictício - foi a alternativa encontrada pelo sistema de reprodução social para viabilizar a venda de mercadorias àqueles que não possuíam condições para adquiri-las, antecipando-lhes uma riqueza futura e incerta, como aposta numa nova onda de crescimento econômico real. Desta forma, a concessão de crédito passou a ser o principal produto explorado pelos modernos capitalistas - os banqueiros -, que deram origem a uma economia política da simulação, transferindo os investimentos da atividade produtiva para o especulativo mercado de ações e valores futuros e lucrando às custas das bolhas financeiras: um valor sem a substância do trabalho humano. Neste sentido, com amparo nas ciências sociais, este trabalho também aborda como o forte apelo consumista, instaurado na sociedade moderna a mero pretexto de mobilizar uma maior demanda pelo crédito, transformou o endividamento do consumidor em um signo de ascensão social, a ponto do reconhecimento do sujeito enquanto cidadão, à luz da lógica empresarial, estar associada à sua solvência e à rentabilidade por ele proporcionada ao sistema capitalista. Em arremate, é analisado, de modo específico, o panorama do acesso ao crédito e o nível de endividamento do consumidor brasileiro, discutindo a que realmente se presta a proposta de alteração do Código de Defesa do Consumidor, que se encontra em trâmite no Congresso Nacional: um chamado à humanização, mediante a educação para o consumo, ou a continuação da barbárie do exato ponto onde ela fora interrompida. / The present dissertation aims, through a critical and interdisciplinary approach, to contextualize the current overproduction capitalist crisis as a remote cause of consumer over-indebtedness, emphasizing the urgent need to build a legal framework favouring the over-indebted in Brazil, so he/she can get out of debt and re-enter the consumer market. The great question guiding this work is to know who (or what) is the true guardian of the desired legislative protection: the citizen himself, who would have his dignity restored by the new solvency status and would have a second chance to, learning from past mistakes, act differently, or capital itself, whose hitherto stagnant flow would flow again in pursuit of infinite expansion. Supported by political economy, an analysis of the Labour Theory of Value is undertaken to demonstrate the greatest internal contradiction of capital, which, in pursuit of the maximum rationalization of the productive process with the least amount of human labor, has reduced jobs and income for the population, preventing it to acquire excess production. A glimpse of a potential solution to the crisis would be envisioned through consumption explosion, but with a lack of real purchasing power, led to the massive and indiscriminate concession of credit - a type of fictitious capital – this was the alternative found by the social reproduction system to make viable the sale of goods to those who were unable to acquire them, anticipating a future and uncertain wealth, as bet on a new wave of real economic growth. In this way, credit lending became the main product exploited by modern capitalists - the bankers - who gave rise to a political economy of simulation, transferring investments from productive activity to the speculative stock and futures markets, profiting from costly financial bubbles: value without the substance of human labor. In this regard, backed by social sciences, this paper also discusses how the powerful costumer appeal, built in modern society as a mere pretext to mobilize a greater demand for credit, transformed consumer indebtedness into a symbol of social ascension; to the point where an individual’s self-worth in society, from a business perspective, is associated with his solvency and the profitability to the capitalist system. In closing, a targeted analysis of credit access and the indebtedness level of the Brazilian consumer is conducted, discussing what the amendment of the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code is actually proposing, which is currently underway at the National Congress: a call for humanization, through consumption education, or the continuation of barbarism from the exact point where it had been interrupted.

A presente dissertação de mestrado serve para refletir acerca das questões concernentes à crise financeira mundial, as modificações legislativas acerca da regulação do crédito ao consumidor e o os novos deveres das instituições financeiras diante de tal cenário. Considerando a necessidade urgente de uma regulação mundial, seja nacional ou em blocos econômicos, acerca do fenômeno do superendividamento, valemo-nos de exemplos de outros países para buscar uma conexão possível, considerando a cultura da sociedade de consumo, leis vigentes e necessidades específicas, entre os deveres dos consumidores e, principalmente, das instituições financeiras. Se o consumidor brasileiro paga atualmente as maiores taxas de juros no mundo, com a justificativa do mercado que tal prática é reflexo de sua inadimplência, deve-se atentar para a razão de tal inadimplência. A inadimplência do consumidor, muitas vezes o levando ao superendividamento, é um reflexo tanto da cultura do imediatismo, fomentada pela publicidade, quanto da ausência de limites e informações adequadas à este consumidor quando da concessão do crédito, o levando a subestimar os riscos da operação. O consumidor não tendo conhecimento necessário para gerir sua vida financeira, ao receber ofertas de crédito com informações deficientes, incompletas, obscuras e até mesmo com ilusões que rodeiam apenas seus benefícios e não seus riscos, é um forte candidato ao superendividamento. Muito embora existam muitas ações, tanto no Brasil quanto no mundo, para tratamento do superendividamento, buscando a ressocialização do consumidor na sociedade, devemos preocupar-nos igualmente com a prevenção deste superendividado, que deve ser realizada com a tomada da responsabilidade [neste sentido como um dever, uma postura a ser adotada pela instituição financeira previamente] no sentido de qualificar seus prepostos a igualmente terem condições de informar, clara e adequadamente, o consumidor dos riscos e benefícios do crédito. Para tanto, analisaremos alguns pressupostos que permeiam nossas hipóteses, passando no primeiro capítulo pelos benefícios e riscos do crédito e, no segundo capítulo, abordando os contratos por adesão, os princípios que norteiam tais pactos, especialmente a boa-fé, chegando ao dever geral de informação, o qual abrigaria o dever de informação formal como esclarecimento, o aconselhamento e advertência, passando igualmente pela necessidade de um prazo de reflexão ao consumidor como condutor de tais deveres. / The present dissertation serves to reflect on the issues that concerned the global financial crisis, the legislative changes regarding the regulation of consumer credit and the new duties of financial institutions faced with this scenario. Considering the urgent need of global regulation, whether national or in economic blocks, around the phenomenon of over-indebtedness, we may use examples from other countries to seek a possible connection, considering the culture of the consumer society, laws and specific needs between the consumers duties and especially, the financial institutions. If the Brazilian consumer currently pays the highest interest rates in the world, with the market justification that such practice is a reflection of its own default, we should look for the reason of such default. The consumer default, often leading him to over-indebtedness, is both a reflection from the culture of immediacy, fostered by advertising, and the absence of limits and suitableinformation for the consumer when granting credit, leading to underestimate the risks of this operation .When consumers do not have the knowledge to manage their financial lives, andreceives credit offers with disabilitiesinformation, incomplete, unclear and even illusions that surround only its benefits and not its risks, became a strong candidate for over- indebtedness. Although there are many actions, both in Brazil and around the world for over-indebtedness treatment, seeking the consumer rehabilitation in the consumer society, we must also concern ourselves about the over-indebtedness prevention, which should be performed with taking responsibility [in this sense as a duty, an attitude to be adopted by the financial institution previously] in order to qualify their agents and also having the conditions to inform clearly and properly, the risks and benefits of consumer credit. To do so, we are going to analyze some assumptions that permeate our chances, passing in the first chapter of the benefits and risks of credit and, in the second chapter, addressing the adhesion contracts, the principles guiding such pacts, especially the good faith, even to the general information duty , which would protect the duty as formal clarification of information, advice and warning, by also passing for theconsumer period for reflection as a driver of such duties.

A presente dissertação de mestrado serve para refletir acerca das questões concernentes à crise financeira mundial, as modificações legislativas acerca da regulação do crédito ao consumidor e o os novos deveres das instituições financeiras diante de tal cenário. Considerando a necessidade urgente de uma regulação mundial, seja nacional ou em blocos econômicos, acerca do fenômeno do superendividamento, valemo-nos de exemplos de outros países para buscar uma conexão possível, considerando a cultura da sociedade de consumo, leis vigentes e necessidades específicas, entre os deveres dos consumidores e, principalmente, das instituições financeiras. Se o consumidor brasileiro paga atualmente as maiores taxas de juros no mundo, com a justificativa do mercado que tal prática é reflexo de sua inadimplência, deve-se atentar para a razão de tal inadimplência. A inadimplência do consumidor, muitas vezes o levando ao superendividamento, é um reflexo tanto da cultura do imediatismo, fomentada pela publicidade, quanto da ausência de limites e informações adequadas à este consumidor quando da concessão do crédito, o levando a subestimar os riscos da operação. O consumidor não tendo conhecimento necessário para gerir sua vida financeira, ao receber ofertas de crédito com informações deficientes, incompletas, obscuras e até mesmo com ilusões que rodeiam apenas seus benefícios e não seus riscos, é um forte candidato ao superendividamento. Muito embora existam muitas ações, tanto no Brasil quanto no mundo, para tratamento do superendividamento, buscando a ressocialização do consumidor na sociedade, devemos preocupar-nos igualmente com a prevenção deste superendividado, que deve ser realizada com a tomada da responsabilidade [neste sentido como um dever, uma postura a ser adotada pela instituição financeira previamente] no sentido de qualificar seus prepostos a igualmente terem condições de informar, clara e adequadamente, o consumidor dos riscos e benefícios do crédito. Para tanto, analisaremos alguns pressupostos que permeiam nossas hipóteses, passando no primeiro capítulo pelos benefícios e riscos do crédito e, no segundo capítulo, abordando os contratos por adesão, os princípios que norteiam tais pactos, especialmente a boa-fé, chegando ao dever geral de informação, o qual abrigaria o dever de informação formal como esclarecimento, o aconselhamento e advertência, passando igualmente pela necessidade de um prazo de reflexão ao consumidor como condutor de tais deveres. / The present dissertation serves to reflect on the issues that concerned the global financial crisis, the legislative changes regarding the regulation of consumer credit and the new duties of financial institutions faced with this scenario. Considering the urgent need of global regulation, whether national or in economic blocks, around the phenomenon of over-indebtedness, we may use examples from other countries to seek a possible connection, considering the culture of the consumer society, laws and specific needs between the consumers duties and especially, the financial institutions. If the Brazilian consumer currently pays the highest interest rates in the world, with the market justification that such practice is a reflection of its own default, we should look for the reason of such default. The consumer default, often leading him to over-indebtedness, is both a reflection from the culture of immediacy, fostered by advertising, and the absence of limits and suitableinformation for the consumer when granting credit, leading to underestimate the risks of this operation .When consumers do not have the knowledge to manage their financial lives, andreceives credit offers with disabilitiesinformation, incomplete, unclear and even illusions that surround only its benefits and not its risks, became a strong candidate for over- indebtedness. Although there are many actions, both in Brazil and around the world for over-indebtedness treatment, seeking the consumer rehabilitation in the consumer society, we must also concern ourselves about the over-indebtedness prevention, which should be performed with taking responsibility [in this sense as a duty, an attitude to be adopted by the financial institution previously] in order to qualify their agents and also having the conditions to inform clearly and properly, the risks and benefits of consumer credit. To do so, we are going to analyze some assumptions that permeate our chances, passing in the first chapter of the benefits and risks of credit and, in the second chapter, addressing the adhesion contracts, the principles guiding such pacts, especially the good faith, even to the general information duty , which would protect the duty as formal clarification of information, advice and warning, by also passing for theconsumer period for reflection as a driver of such duties.

O endividamento excessivo dos indivíduos e das famílias é um fenômeno recente que tem sua origem na necessidade da economia de mercado conferir poder aquisitivo imediato a seu principal agente econômico: o consumidor. Desde o final do século XX, o crédito se tornou o motor propulsor da sociedade de consumo, de maneira que o endividamento se tornou uma situação desejada, mas que, por outro lado, apresenta riscos aos consumidores, que ficaram sujeitos ao superendividamento. A democratização do crédito chegou ao Brasil apenas no século XXI, apresentando-se como a principal ameaça à integridade financeira do consumidor. O incentivo governamental para tornar o crédito mais acessível e a criação de novos instrumentos de crédito foram os principais fatores responsáveis pela guinada do crédito ao consumo. Contudo, a ausência de uma rede eficaz de proteção ao consumidor pode trazer graves problemas sociais e a violação de direitos fundamentais dos tomadores de crédito. Esse cenário já se verificou em muitos países que tiveram a sua revolução do crédito ao consumo, gerando uma multidão de superendividados passivos, que passou a viver à margem da sociedade, ocasionando um forte problema de exclusão social. Nesses países, que tem a França como exemplo, foi adotada uma lei específica para a prevenção e tratamento do sobreendividamento, reconhecendo-se que essa situação não é prejudicial apenas para o consumidor, mas também para todo o mercado de consumo, podendo dar origem a uma grave crise financeira generalizada. No Brasil não existe uma lei específica para o tratamento das situações de sobreendividamento, de forma a proporcionar a recuperação financeira global do consumidor; contudo, o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro contém diversas normas, por meio das quais incidem os direitos fundamentais da pessoa humana, que são capazes de tutelar os direitos dos consumidores de crédito, inclusive nas situações de superendividamento. Este trabalho pretende, num primeiro momento, demonstrar a necessidade de uma lei específica para o tratamento global da situação do consumidor superendividado, e, num segundo momento, desenvolver a tutela jurídica de lege lata para a proteção do consumidor de crédito em geral e para a solução dos casos de endividamento excessivo em que esteja ameaçado o núcleo dos direitos fundamentais decorrentes da dignidade da pessoa humana. / The over-indebtedness of households is a recent phenomenon which has its origins in the need of market economies to confer purchasing power to its main economic agent: the consumer. Since the end of the 20th Century, credit has become the main propeller of consumer societies, making indebtedness a desirable situation. Such a situation, though, presents risks to consumers, who became subjected to over-indebtedness. The credit democratization has reached Brazil only in the 21st Century, presenting itself as the main threat to the consumers financial integrity. The governmental incentive to make credit affordable and the creation of new instruments of credit were the main factors responsible for the growth of consumer credit. However, the lack of an effective consumer protection net may bring about serious social problems and the violation of borrowers fundamental rights. This context took place in many countries where the credit revolution has happened generating a multitude of passive over-indebted people, which are living on the margins of society, causing a serious problem of social exclusion. In these countries, as France for example, a specific law was adopted for the prevention and handling of over-indebtedness, in recognition that this situation is prejudicial not only to the consumer, but also to the whole market, being able to cause even a severe generalized financial crisis. Brazil doesnt have a specific bankruptcy law to provide financial rehabilitation for the over-indebted consumer. However, Brazilian law has many rules through which fundamental rights are applied providing consumers judicial protection, including situations of over-indebtedness. This essay intends, firstly, to demonstrate the necessity of a specific bankruptcy law for the global handling of over-indebtedness situations and, secondly, to develop the judicial treatment de lege lata for the protection of the consumer credit in general and for over-indebtedness situations where the core of fundamental rights is threatened.

So far, research on the causes of over-indebtedness in Europe has predominantly focused on the characteristics of individuals or households. This article investigates to what extent country-level factors are associated with a European household's risk of being over-indebted. We examine variables that reflect policies aimed at combating over-indebtedness (the average level of economic literacy prevalent within a country and its classification into a specific debt-discharge regime) and variables that reflect other welfare-state policies (a country's affiliation to a specific employment regime and a summary measure referring to the net replacement rate in the case of long-term unemployment). The results, which are based on multilevel logistic regression analyses of European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data for 27 European countries, suggest that all four country-level factors matter. This particularly applies to the variables reflecting other welfare-state policies, thus underlining the relevance of the design of social policy in fighting over-indebtedness.

Cette thèse a pour objet l’analyse des potentialités et limites de la microfinance dans la création ou la consolidation d’emploi au Sénégal. Elle combine une analyse de la demande et de l’offre, en étudiant à la fois le fonctionnement de certaines filières d’activité et le rôle qu’y joue la microfinance, les stratégies d’implantation des IMFs puis la crise des impayés et de surendettement au Sénégal qui est actuellement en émergence. Dans cette thèse trois grandes questions essentielles sont abordées. S’inspirant d’une approche en termes de filières, une première question s’intéresse à la demande et analyse les potentialités et limites de la microfinance dans le financement de différents secteurs d’activité comme la pêche artisanale, le mareyage, la transformation de produits halieutiques, le commerce et l’artisanat. Nos analyses mettent en évidence d’une part l’existence de barrières multiples à la dynamisation de ces filières, qui vont bien au-delà de l’accès au crédit, et d’autre part la présence de diverses formes de financement informel, souvent peu couteux, facilement accessibles et plus adaptés à l’irrégularité et la saisonnalité des activités. Au final, dans le contexte actuel, la microfinance se révèle peu adaptée. S’inspirant des économies de proximité, une seconde question s’intéresse à l’offre et étudie les stratégies d’implantation des institutions de microfinance. Nos analyses mettent en évidence deux stratégies principales : celles qui privilégient l’agglomération dans des zones à fort potentiel humain et économique, créant ainsi une concentration de la microfinance et une forte concurrence ; et celles qui en revanche se spécialisent et s’ancrent sur un territoire spécifique. Une troisième question combine les deux points de vue – offre et demande – pour étudier la crise émergente des impayés. Nos analyses suggèrent que cette crise combine différents facteurs, les dérives de mission, le relâchement dans les règles de gestion et de gouvernance et des facteurs politiques. / The object of this thesis is to analyze the potential and limits of microfinance in the creation or preservation of employment in Senegal. It combines an analysis of supply and demand, by studying together some value chains and the role played by microfinance therein, MFIs’ establishment strategies, and issues related to unpaid-loan and over-indebtedness in Senegal that is now emerging. Three main questions are addressed in this thesis. Inspired by a value chain approach, the first question concerns the demand and analyses the potential and limits of microfinance in the financing of different sectors like artisanal fishing, fish trade, processing of marine products, trading and craftsmanship. The analysis reveals on one hand the existence of multiple barriers to the dynamism of these value chains which go far beyond access to credit and on the other hand the presence of diverse forms of informal financing, often less costly, easier to access and more adapted to the irregularity and seasonal nature of the activities. One conclusion is that, in the present context microfinance is not well suited. Using the model of local economy, the second question is related to supply and studies microfinance institutions establishment strategies. Findings evidence two main strategies: one that is centered on cities with a high human and economic potential, creating therefore a concentration of microfinance and strong competition; and the other that are more specialized and are territory-specific. The third question combines the two points of view – supply and demand – to study the emerging unpaid-loan issue. Our results show that several reasons preside to this issue, including a loss of cap in the mission, loose management and governance rules enforcement and political factors.

Western countries are facing an increasing poverty among seniors related to the demographic revolution and lengthening of life span. The so-called over-indebtedness is one of the "modern" causes and also consequences of poverty. This thesis discusses the relationship between over-indebtedness and poverty with emphasis on senior population (65+). An empiric analysis is employed to explore causes and consequences of over-indebtedness. The increasing over-indebtedness is already being targeted by public policies, however their effectiveness is low. Sufficient material and personal resources are lacking as well as not being optimally utilized. There is only limited cooperation between civil and public-law sectors. Communication with the private sector in a way of common goal setting is also deficient. In a fierce market-driven economy, elderly people become a weak link and find themselves in situations conflicting with morals, human and civil rights, and adequate quality of life in a modern society. This state of affairs threatens social integrity and demands a solution. Three participating groups were surveyed: the elderly, the employees of advisory centers and the non- bank financial institutions. Various approaches to solving the problem are discussed. The result of the analysis consists of a wide...

(in English) The aim of this diploma thesis is to map and analyse psychosocial consequences of over-indebtedness and to emphasize on importace komplex solution considering to all aspect. In the introduction of theoretical part are defined professional terms. The other chapters are focused on history of over-indebtedness, the issue of over-indebtedness in the Czech Republic and several other European countries, the providers and the types of financial products, the conditions under which the debt arises, causes of over- indebtedness, the development phase of the debt, insolvency and related legislation. The theoretical part is also focused on dept issue in social work, specifically on providers social services for over-indebtedness people and social services for over-indebtedness people. Followed by a chapter focused on prevention over-indebtedness and chaptes focused on psychosocial consequences. To achieve an aim was used the qualitative research method, specifically questionnaire of half-structured interviews technique. Followed by case reports of respondents, interpretation and analysis of data, discussion and suggestions and recommendations.

Cette thèse a pour objet la compréhension des mécanismes de diffusion de la microfinance en relation avec les questions de genre en Haute-Guinée. En effet, l’examen des rapports sociaux en Haute-Guinée laisse entrevoir des disparités de genre au détriment des femmes. Majoritairement elles touchées par de nombreuses inégalités d’ordre socio-économique, culturel et politique : elles sont peu ou pas du tout impliquées dans le processus de prise de décision ; leur niveau d’instruction et de formation sont faibles par rapport à ceux des hommes ; elles sont exclues du contrôle des ressources productives et économiques (terres, arbres fruitiers, mines, pêche…). Cet état de fait a pour conséquence la dévalorisation de leur statut social, la charge considérable du travail domestique et surtout la paupérisation généralisée des femmes. Face à ces réalités, certaines femmes s’inscrivent dans des logiques d’emprunt de microcrédits pour démarrer, renforcer ou encore diversifier les activités génératrices de revenus dans les secteurs du commerce, de l’artisanat et de l’agriculture. C’est dans la perspective d’approfondir ce défi que cette thèse tente d’analyser les effets de la microfinance sur la vie des femmes de cette région de la Guinée.A partir d’une approche méthodologique essentiellement qualitative, l’examen des réalités de terrain révèle que la microfinance n’est pas une solution miracle pour lutter contre la pauvreté des femmes et les inégalités de genre. Elle peut tout aussi produire des effets inverses débouchant sur l’aggravation de leur situation économique et sociale (surendettement, pauvreté, migration, exclusion, divorce, prostitution, exposition au VIH/SIDA). / The purpose of this dissertation is the understanding of the mechanisms of the development of microfinance in relation to gender issues in Upper Guinea, in the republic of Guinea. Indeed, the examination of social relations in Upper Guinea suggests gender disparities to the detriment of women. They are disproportionately affected by many socio-economic, cultural, and political inequalities: they have little or no involvement at all in the decision-making process; they have very low levels of education and training in comparison to men; they have no control over productive and economic resources (trees, fruit trees, mines, fishing, among others). This situation results in the devaluation of their social status, significant domestic workload, and above all, women’s generalized impoverishment. Confronted with this reality, some women adhere to the logic of borrowing, which is based on micro-credits in order to start, strengthen or diversify income generating activities in the trade, crafts and agriculture sectors. For the purpose of further exploring that issue, this dissertation attempts to analyze the effects of microfinance on women’s life in this region of Guinea.Using a methodological approach, which is primarily qualitative, the examination of field realities shows that microfinance is not a miracle solution to fight poverty among women and gender inequalities. It may just as well produce opposite effects resulting in the worsening of their economic and social situation (over-indebtedness, poverty, migration, exclusion, divorce, prostitution, exposure to HIV/AIDS).

The thesis "Over-Indebtedness in the Czech Republic: Problem Analysis and Policy Alternatives" deals with the issue of over-indebtedness of households with regards to consumer loans, specifically in the Czech Republic. Over-indebtedness is currently a very real and serious issue. The author attempts to tackle what is a relatively complex issue. The objective of the thesis is to demonstrate that over-indebtedness is a significant problem and analyse the myriad factors that contribute to it. Finally, possible solutions to the problem are explored. The author exhibits a variety of data to measure over-indebtedness in addition to determining the various causes, namely individual economic factors, such as sudden unemployment, and financial imprudence, which can be attributed to individual psychology or low financial literacy. Additionally, the unfair and even loan-sharking practices adopted by some loan providers and brokers along with the problematic process of debt enforcement, which contribute to over-indebtedness are described in detail. Based on the identified drivers, the thesis proposes specific tools to address the problem, with particular emphasis on regulating providers, and analyses their advantages and disadvantages. Further to the regulatory instruments, the thesis also stresses the need to...