An amazing chart via McKinsey and BIS showing the distribution of financial assets by class and overall stocks of financial assets. These are covering the period through Q3 2013.
What we can learn from this?
- Stock of financial assets might seem absurdly high compared to overall economic activity, but it is not that much out of line with longer term growth trends. Between 2000 and 2014 the world GDP is expected to grow from USD32,731.439 billion to USD76,776.008 billion, a rise of 135%. Over 2000-2013, stock of financial assets rose at least 124%.
- However, in composition terms, the assets are geared toward debt and especially sovereign debt. Public Debt securities are up in volumes 243% - almost double the rate of economic growth. Financial institutions bonds are up 144% - faster than economic growth. Private non-financial sectors debt is up from USD43 trillion to USD 91 trillion - a rise of 112%. Total debt is up from USD73 trillion to USD178 trillion or 144% so within debt group of assets, public debt is off the charts in growth terms.
There is much deleveraging that took place in the global economy over the recent years. All of it was painful. But there is no way current levels of debt, globally, can be sustained.
