financim

Financim is a term used to describe a set of ideas, practices, and cultural attitudes that place finance at the center of economic and social life. It is a neologism that appears in contemporary discussions rather than a formally defined discipline, with no single agreed-upon definition.

In its broadest sense, financim refers to the increasing integration of financial markets, institutions, and instruments into everyday decision making—across government, business, and households. Core elements often attributed to financim include financialization (the growth of finance as a share of economic activity), an emphasis on shareholder value, liability management and risk transfer, securitization, and the use of complex financial instruments. Variants may stress the role of data, algorithmic trading, and the enablement of credit creation.

The concept is used to describe a worldview in which market-based pricing and finance-driven metrics guide resource allocation and governance. Proponents argue that finance improves liquidity and efficiency, while critics contend that financim can prioritize short-term financial metrics over productive investment, increase systemic risk, and contribute to income and wealth inequality. The term also highlights concerns about the influence of financial actors on public policy and regulation.

Financim lacks a formal institutional status and is used more as a lens in policy debates and scholarly writing than as a defined school of thought. It overlaps with discussions of financialization and neoliberalism, but is distinguished by its emphasis on the centrality of finance in social organization and decision making.

See also: financialization, neoliberalism, capital markets, shareholder value.