Funny you say that because there is in fact a relationship between higher personal debt and gdp.
This page displays a table with actual values, consensus figures, forecasts, statistics and historical data charts for - Households Debt to GDP.
tradingeconomics.com
A big reason why poorer countries can't grow their gdp is because of lack of access to public and private debt which then has the knock-on effect of personal debt being less available.
True.
And the reason they have limited debt offerings is because the typical local or global bank doesn't trust people and companies paying them back.
And because the industry is so lousy, the local currency is worth nothing so even governments can't borrow debt.
So all in all it becomes a cash/limited debts kind of place. Good for people's pocket books (for people who can't pay things off), but bad for innovation, goods and long term growth.
It would be like car companies only selling cars to people who can float $50,000 on the spot. No car loans allowed. Very few people can do that. Everyone would take the bus until they save money and can buy a car when they're 60.
Hell, even millionaires would rather milk a 1% financing rate than pay off a BMW in cash.
