O Capitalismo Contemporâneo e o Consumidor Superendividado: Uma Análise Crítica da Proteção Jurídica Pós-Lei 14.181/2021

This study analyzes the phenomenon of Brazilian consumer over-indebtedness from a critical perspective of contemporary capitalism, examining the advances and limitations of Law 14.181/2021. The research investigates how the current economic model transformed indebtedness into a capital accumulation strategy, creating a new class of socially excluded individuals. Through bibliographic review and normative analysis, the study demonstrates that over-indebtedness is not merely an individual financial management problem, but a structural result of a system that exploits consumers’ economic and psychological vulnerabilities. The Over-indebtedness Law represents a historic milestone in legal protection, introducing collective renegotiation procedures and preservation of the existential minimum. However, its implementation faces resistance from the financial market and structural limitations of the capitalist system itself. The study concludes that effective protection of over-indebted consumers demands deeper transformations, including rigorous regulation of the financial system, universal financial education, and integrated public policies that promote human dignity and social justice.