This research addresses the relationship between territory and money. The main objective is to analyze the relationship between territorial expansion of bank credit and interregional economic inequality in contemporary Brazil (2000-2010). The underlying hypothesis is that the reduction of interregional economic inequalities favored the territorial expansion of bank credit in the country during the above period. To achieve the objective and prove the central hypothesis a methodology is used, which includes a theoretical analysis based on three major approaches, namely Marxist, Post-Keynesian and Cultural Economy. Furthermore, we analyze the historical context and perform an empirical analysis, which consists both of a statistical analysis with temporal regressions as well as a cartographic analysis. The main results of the research show that the breaks of financial barriers-particularly regulatory and macroeconomic-associated with social policies provided a greater purchasing power, especially for populations of regions with repressed high demand, as well as greater access to consumer credit for these regions. This resulted in the highest credit growth that the country has ever experienced and also in a significant territorial expansion of commercial bank credit.

Primeiramente, ao Prof. Wanderley Messias da Costa, pela oportunidade, confiança, apoio e incentivo em todos os momentos. À Profª. Mónica Arroyo, pelos ensinamentos, pelas primorosas contribuições, as quais foram fundamentais para a conclusão deste trabalho, pelo carinho e atenção em todo o percurso do mestrado. Ao Prof. Fábio Contel, pelas contribuições e sugestões a este trabalho.