Why Borrowing Fuels Economic Bubbles That Eventually Burst

The Dangers of Rapid Credit Expansion

When the growth of credit outpaces the economy’s ability to invest it productively, it often leads to credit-fueled asset bubbles that can destabilize the financial system. This happens because credit—essentially money created through borrowing—can be generated in massive amounts almost instantly, while genuine productive investments grow much more slowly and steadily.

For example, following the 2008-09 global financial crisis, the Federal Reserve expanded its balance sheet by more than $3 trillion. However, this enormous influx of credit did not immediately translate into an equal amount of productive economic activity. Similarly, commercial banks have the power to create new money with just a few keystrokes when they issue loans, further amplifying this effect.