Análise dos impactos das mudanças ocorridas nos meios de pagamento no período de 2018 A 2024: um estudo de caso da feira livre Mercadão 2000 em Santarém/Pará.

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the impacts of the changes that occurred in the means of payment, specifically during the period from 2018 to 2024, at the open-air market Mercadão 2000, located in the municipality of Santarém, in the state of Pará, Brazil. To this end, the research adopts the following guiding question: in what ways have the changes in payment methods, particularly from 2018 to 2024, affected the economic and financial transactions of market vendors operating at Mercadão 2000 in Santarém/Pará? Following this structural logic, the theoretical framework is based on a review of the historical transition from barter to modern forms of money and, more recently, to digital payment methods, such as Pix. Subsequently, we examine the evolution of payment systems in Brazil from 2018 to 2024, using secondary data from the official website of the Central Bank of Brazil. The objective is to demonstrate the growth rates in the use of credit cards, debit cards, and Pix in financial transactions conducted by individuals and businesses, as well as the impact of these changes on the National Financial System, especially within both digital and traditional banking networks. Methodologically, this research is characterized as both qualitative and quantitative in nature, based on the proposed objectives and the problem addressed. It is also classified as a case study, as we used a structured questionnaire with closed questions applied to a sample of 50 vendors from Mercadão 2000 in the municipality of Santarém. The results indicate that we are currently living in a technological era of payment systems, with Pix being the most widely used and effective tool for financial transactions within the banking system. These innovations have reached the market of open-air fairs, such as Mercadão 2000. Although many vendors now use Pix as a payment method— mainly through digital bank accounts—many still face difficulties in handling these technologies, either because they do not own a mobile device or lack the knowledge to navigate their bank's application. As a result, some vendors lose daily sales and compromise their income, since many of their customers prefer to use these modern technologies to make payments.