Debt, Power, and Time: The Case of a Brazilian Debt Fair

Abstract Far from being linear and regular, the time of debt is characterized by the alternating sequences and contrasting rhythms of repayment. This is examined in this article, which analyses the concept of “government through debt” (Lazzarato, 2012) based on an ethnography of the debt fairs organized in many Brazilian cities. These events bring together debt collectors from banks, credit institutions, large service companies (electricity, telephone, water, etc.), and their debtor customers. The article analyses the debt negotiations that take place in the booth of a major consumer credit institution during one of these events. It shows that, although their debts are not cancelled by their creditors, debtors manage to obtain a temporary respite and further time to pay.