THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF THE INSTANT PAYMENT SYSTEM (PIX) IN RETAIL IN CAUCAIA (2021–2025): AN ANALYSIS OF THE REDUCTION IN TRANSACTION COSTS BASED ON SECONDARY DATA

Abstract

This study examines the effects of Pix implementation on transaction costs in the retail sector of Caucaia, Ceará, between 2021 and 2025. The main objective is to estimate cost reductions resulting from the replacement of traditional payment methods — particularly credit and debit cards — by the instant payment system. The research is a quantitative-descriptive case study based on secondary data from the Central Bank of Brazil and the Brazilian Association of Credit Card and Service Companies (Abecs). The Allocative Efficiency Measurement Model (AEMM) was applied to compare transaction volumes with average market fees. The results indicate projected growth in Pix person-to-business transactions from R$ 0.5 billion in 2021 to R$ 7.43 billion in 2025, with an estimated accumulated allocative efficiency of R$ 133.0 million, driven by an average savings margin of 0.79% per transaction. The study concludes that Pix represents an institutional innovation capable of reducing costs, increasing liquidity, and strengthening regional retail competitiveness.