Dinero, trabajos alternativos y consumos en la vida cotidiana de policías de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

Abstract

Este artículo analiza los significados del dinero en la vida cotidiana de miembros de la Policía de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. La investigación pone el foco de atención en las formas de administración del dinero, la composición salarial, las prioridades de gastos y consumos y las estrategias de complementación de ingresos. Para su elaboración, realizamos observación participante y entrevistas biográficamente orientadas en una comisaría de la provincia de Buenos Aires. En una segunda etapa, hicimos entrevistas biográficamente orientadas a informantes clave pertenecientes a organizaciones y agencias estatales relevantes en los circuitos de “dinero policial”. Del análisis surgieron los siguientes hallazgos: la composición diversa del sueldo; la existencia de trabajos alternativos orientados a complementar el salario en la policía, a alejarse de la policía o a generar riqueza; la distinción entre dinero público y dinero privado; y relación entre la lógica del consumo y la justificación de prácticas ilegales. Entre las principales conclusiones se subraya el significado de las compras y consumos en la configuración de lazos de pertenencias de los policías a la institución. En esta dirección, la noción de sacrificio atribuida a la actividad policial toma centralidad en la explicación de los circuitos y tipos de dineros.

This article analyzes the meanings of money in the daily life of the members of the Police of Buenos Aires Province. The research focus on the different ways of managing money, the salary composition, the spending and consumption priorities and the strategies for supplement incomes. For it accomplishment, in the first stage of ethnographic fieldwork we conducted participant observation and biographic interviews in a Police Station of Buenos Aires Province. In the second stage of fieldwork, we conducted biographic interviews to key informants from relevant state organizations and agencies in the money circuits of the police. The following findings emerged from the analysis of the empirical data set: the different composition of the salary, the existence of alternative jobs to supplement wages in the police; the distinction between public money and private money; and the relationship between the logic of consumption and the justification of illegal practices. Among the main conclusions, there is a special emphasis in the meaning of the purchases and consumptions inside the configuration of the police identity. Following this direction, the notion of sacrifice attributed to police activity is the key in the explanation of the circuits and types of money.of ethnographic fieldwork we conducted participant observation and biographic interviews in a Police Station of Buenos Aires Province. In the second stage of fieldwork, we conducted biographic interviews to key informants from relevant state organizations and agencies in the money circuits of the police. The following findings emerged from the analysis of the empirical data set: the different composition of the salary, the existence of alternative jobs to supplement wages in the police; the distinction between public money and private money; and the relationship between the logic of consumption and the justification of illegal practices. Among the main conclusions, there is a special emphasis in the meaning of the purchases and consumptions inside the configuration of the police identity. Following this direction, the notion of sacrifice attributed to police activity is the key in the explanation of the circuits and types of money.