SOCIAL PERFORMANCE OF CREDIT COOPERATIVES IN BRAZIL: A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH BASED ON INDICATORS AND MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS

Authors

  • Denise Espich Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar)
  • Marta Von Ende Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM)
  • Flávia Zancan Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar) e Must University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22561/cvr.v36i3.9110

Keywords:

Credit cooperatives, Social performance, Factor analysis, TOPSIS

Abstract

This study proposes to measure the social performance of Brazilian credit cooperatives by constructing an index. A standardized secondary database was used, with data from 3,583 active single cooperatives between 2016 and 2020, collected from the Central Bank, IBGE, and FGCoop. Sixteen indicators grouped into five theoretical dimensions were mobilized. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to reduce dimensionality and, subsequently, the TOPSIS multicriteria method was used to rank performance. The results revealed three main factors: breadth of reach, depth of access to financial products/services, and depth related to borrower poverty. The model showed satisfactory internal consistency and explained variance greater than 80%. Empirically, an average social performance of 35.6% was observed, with indices ranging from 0.039 to 0.841, indicating significant heterogeneity among the cooperatives analyzed. The proposal contributes by offering a replicable index, capable of supporting public policies, regulatory decisions, and management strategies aimed at strengthening the social function of credit cooperatives.

Author Biographies

Denise Espich, Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar)

Doutora em Administração, Professora do Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar), Linha 7 de setembro, s/n, BR 386 - KM 40, CEP: 98400-000, Frederico Westphalen – RS, (55) 3744-8900, denise.espich@iffarroupilha.edu.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6629-1080

Marta Von Ende, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM)

Doutora em Administração, Professora da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima nº 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, CEP: 97105-900, Santa Maria – RS, (55) 3220-8100, marta@politecnico.ufsm.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8747-0827

Flávia Zancan, Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar) e Must University

Doutora em Controladoria e Contabilidade (ênfase em Finanças Corporativas), Professora do Instituto Federal Farroupilha (IFFar) e da Must University, Rua 20 de Setembro, 2616 - CEP 97420-000, São Vicente do Sul – RS, (55) 3218-8500, flaviazancan@alumni.usp.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5060-7615

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Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

ESPICH, D.; VON ENDE, M.; ZANCAN, F. SOCIAL PERFORMANCE OF CREDIT COOPERATIVES IN BRAZIL: A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH BASED ON INDICATORS AND MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS. Contabilidade Vista & Revista, [S. l.], v. 36, n. 3, p. 114–133, 2025. DOI: 10.22561/cvr.v36i3.9110. Disponível em: https://revistas.face.ufmg.br/index.php/contabilidadevistaerevista/article/view/9110. Acesso em: 20 jan. 2026.