ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTION OF WEALTH AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE POPULATION OF THE PATOS-PB REGION: A REGIONAL SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This quantitative and descriptive study analyzes the perception of wealth and financial stability in the municipality of Patos-PB, showing that financial well-being in the region is based on the achievement of "micro independence" instead of the excessive accumulation of assets. The results indicate a social consensus that the "ideal income" ranges between R$4,000.00 and R$5,000.00 per month, equivalent to the Class C standard, which reveals a profound structural inequality, since the base of the pyramid (Class E) would need to increase their income by more than 233% to achieve this economic tranquility. To overcome this disparity, access to Higher Education emerges as the main engine for increasing income and promoting documented financial planning. Furthermore, the behavioral analysis brings a finding with a great psychological impact: the lack of daily control over expenses generates more anxiety than the debt itself, proving that individuals who are in debt, but organized, feel more secure than those without debt and without financial management. It is concluded, therefore, that true economic stability depends at the same time on educational qualification and behavioral maturity in the active control of resources.