From Inclusion to Servitude: A Critical Analysis of the Financial System and Its Role in Perpetuating Poverty in Latin America

Abstract

Objectives: This multidimensional study analyzes poverty from three complementary perspectives—economic, social, and philosophical—by systematically comparing its manifestations in Latin America and Europe. It seeks to understand how financial systems, particularly through interest rates and banking processes, contribute to perpetuating or mitigating poverty conditions in different regional contexts. The economic analysis examines the concrete mechanisms linking credit policies to poverty indices, while the social approach explores impacts on communities and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the philosophical perspective questions traditional concepts of poverty, proposing alternative views that integrate both the material and existential dimensions of the phenomenon. This study aims to offer public policy recommendations that address material poverty alongside what could be termed “spiritual poverty,” understood as alienation and loss of meaning in highly consumerist societies.

Materials and methods: The research employed a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative techniques in a complementary manner. Regarding the quantitative component, it included a longitudinal comparative analysis (2013–2023) of three key variables: average interest rates, Gini coefficients, and multidimensional poverty measures, utilizing official databases from financial institutions and international organizations. Subsequently, advanced statistical tests were applied to determine significant correlations and patterns. In contrast, the qualitative approach incorporated interpretive techniques such as phenomenological hermeneutics to understand lived experiences of poverty, together with critical discourse analysis to deconstruct dominant conceptual frameworks in financial policies. Finally, the study was further enriched with philosophical perspectives that problematize traditional concepts of poverty and well-being, as well as contemporary psychological theories on the cognitive effects of economic scarcity.

Results: The findings reveal clearly differentiated patterns between regions. For instance, in Latin America, excessively high interest rates show a significant correlation with elevated levels of inequality and multidimensional poverty, demonstrating how formal financial inclusion can paradoxically deepen economic dependence when inadequately regulated. The data show average rates between 22% and 26% for consumer credit, with Gini coefficients ranging from 0.48 to 0.49 and multidimensional poverty indices close to 19%. Europe presents a contrasting picture, with markedly lower rates and reduced inequality, although persistent regional disparities remain. Moreover, the qualitative analysis uncovers fundamental conceptual tensions: on the one hand, poverty as a condition imposed by unjust economic structures; on the other, the possibility of understanding it as a conscious ethical stance against rampant consumerism. This duality poses significant challenges for public policy design.

Conclusions: The study concludes that effectively addressing poverty requires multifaceted and integrated interventions. Specifically, at the economic-institutional level, stricter regulation of interest rates and predatory financial practices is urgently needed, particularly in Latin American contexts. Traditional redistributive policies must be complemented by profound cultural transformations that counteract consumerist alienation and promote alternative community values. Financial systems require structural reforms that properly balance access to credit with robust consumer protection mechanisms. However, truly overcoming poverty demands transcending purely economic approaches to develop comprehensive visions that recognize both material needs and the existential dimensions of human well-being. Ultimately, authentic emancipation involves questioning the system’s accumulative logic and building alternatives that enable fairer, more sustainable, and more meaningful ways of life for all members of society.