Figure 6.5: Total US Liabilities and Wealth as Multiples of GDP

Quadrupling of US GDP Per Capita (1951-2022)

Unsustainable Bank Lending and Borrowing as a Cause of the 2007-2009 Financial Crisis

An economist observes that for a major developed economy over the last several decades, the total value of all outstanding financial obligations has grown at a much faster pace than the country's annual production of goods and services. During the same period, the ratio of the nation's aggregate net worth to its annual production has fluctuated without a sustained, long-term upward trend. Based only on these observations, which conclusion is most logical?

In the United States since the mid-20th century, the ratio of the nation's aggregate net worth to its economic output has followed a clear and sustained upward trend, closely mirroring the growth pattern of the total debt-to-output ratio.

Analyzing a Nation's Financial Trajectory

Reconciling Economic Trends