Alfabetização financeira dos servidores públicos do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sul de Minas: mensuração, análise e proposição

Abstract

This study addresses the relevance of financial literacy in contemporary society, where the wide availability of financial products demands a solid knowledge base for well-informed decisionmaking. A survey was conducted at IFSULDEMINAS with the purpose of assessing the level of financial literacy among Technical Administrative Education (TAE) servers working in the campuses. Specific objectives included characterizing the socio-economic and demographic profile, evaluating financial behavior, and seeking to associate socio-economic, demographic, and behavioral characteristics with the level of literacy, analyzing the relationship between these variables. Finally, a proposal for a financial literacy course was developed based on the obtained results. The data revealed a profile of the servers, with an average age of 41 years and an equal distribution between genders. The majority completed high school and primary education in public schools, while the education level of parents is limited to incomplete primary education. Regarding income, both family and individual averages fall within the range of 4 to 8 minimum wages. It was noted that a significant portion of the servers did not have access to financial disciplines during higher education. With regard to financial behavior, it was observed that the majority allocate more than 50% of their income to installment purchases, with a preference for credit card payments. Surprisingly, most do not have a history of overdue bills, demonstrating discipline in financial management. Contributions to the official pension plan are regular, although most do not invest in complementary pensions, suggesting a lack of financial preparation for retirement. Half of the servers adopt the habit of setting aside money for contingencies, while the other half does not follow this practice. The majority also opt to purchase insurance as a financial protection measure. The financial literacy survey included six crucial questions, revealing that 65.79% of the servers are considered financially literate. The results indicated that only gender and a background in finance during higher education demonstrated a significant association with the financial literacy of the servers. This finding demonstrates the importance of policies for women and the inclusion of financial education subjects in the educational curriculum.