My 9yr old phrased this one. "If the world loses a lot of money then someone else must have it - so who has it?". Noddy Holder asked the same question on Have I got news for you. No one had the answer - not even a jokey one.
The previous owner of the asset, i.e. the seller of the asset, has the money you paid them for the asset that subsequently drops in value.
Take his question "Where does America get its money from?" - simple but very important question. McWilliams tells us it is China.
So where does China get its money from?
More precisely, the US nation is a net borrower from the savers of the world, mainly Asian savings, incl China.
McWilliams makes another call (disputed on this thread) he says its from a Waong in a factory - at 2 dollars a week or something, and he interviews Waong.
Don't think in terms of "money", think in terms of "savings" and "borrowings", or surpluses and deficits. The Chinese nation is a net saver as it produces more output than it consumes.
I dont know where big countries get their money. Does anyone know the full details?
I think you mean where do borrowing nations like the USA and UK, Spain, etc. borrow from??
Answer: the world's savers, i.e. other countries that run surpluses, e.g. Gulf states, Norway, oil producers, Asian saving nations, etc.