Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When does debt become unsustainable? This documentary explores the high-stakes world of global debt, from empty mega-resorts like Dubai’s "The World" islands to entire nations crashing on a cheap credit sugar high.
Discover the human and economic cost of financial crises across the globe:
Dubai: The remnants of an outlandish real estate boom built for the super-rich.
Argentina: A country facing catastrophic currency devaluation, forcing citizens into barter markets and soup kitchens.
United States: The harsh reality of modern debtors' prisons in Mississippi and the moral pitfalls of predatory lending.
Featuring insights from top financial historians, bankers, and economists, including Richard Vague, Sandra Navidi, Christoph Trebesch, and Frederick Wherry, this film uses a mix of playful observation and sharp investigation to answer critical questions: How do different cultures handle debt? What happens when the system breaks? And what are the solutions?
Director: Rudolph Herzog
Original title: 300 Trillion, The Debt Trap
Watch more related documentaries in our playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTOUyQcU3JG2SpLeZrAW7IG2ni93ARB39
When does debt become unsustainable? This documentary explores the high-stakes world of global debt, from empty mega-resorts like Dubai’s "The World" islands to entire nations crashing on a cheap credit sugar high.
Discover the human and economic cost of financial crises across the globe:
Dubai: The remnants of an outlandish real estate boom built for the super-rich.
Argentina: A country facing catastrophic currency devaluation, forcing citizens into barter markets and soup kitchens.
United States: The harsh reality of modern debtors' prisons in Mississippi and the moral pitfalls of predatory lending.
Featuring insights from top financial historians, bankers, and economists, including Richard Vague, Sandra Navidi, Christoph Trebesch, and Frederick Wherry, this film uses a mix of playful observation and sharp investigation to answer critical questions: How do different cultures handle debt? What happens when the system breaks? And what are the solutions?
Director: Rudolph Herzog
Original title: 300 Trillion, The Debt Trap
Watch more related documentaries in our playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTOUyQcU3JG2SpLeZrAW7IG2ni93ARB39
