Of course this is an exaggerated example, so, let’s have a look at real figures now: the development of monetary assets and debts in comparison with Germany’s economic output. Monetary assets and debts are identical figures, because monetary assets are defined by lent out money, therefore they are equal with debts.
In 2000 the national product (the green line) is seven times as high as in 1950 in real, inflation-adjusted figures. 7 times as much means: we produce and consume 7 times more than in the 50ies. And we throw away 7 times as much. Monetary assets, however, (the red line in the graph) have climbed up to an amount 32 times as high. The exponential tendency of this curve becomes more evident the older the economy becomes, because more and more people are capable of putting their interest returns on top of their savings which in the beginning is not so easy.