Quote from morganist:
One thing I think they are worried about with Greece is its implications on the other troubled states. If they leave other countries may want to leave and this loss is not affordable.
i live in one of the other countries in the EUzone (one of the PIGS) and the sentiment here is entirely different from what is brewing in greece. vast majority of people want to keep the EUR and is willing to make sacrifices in order to keep it, while in greece the population has been very active in demonstrating their opposition to the EUR. again, greece is in economic depression for the last 5 years with 40% unemployment (mostly fueled by the EUR monetary policy) while in the rest of PIGS, there's a mild recession and unemployment is much less than in greece. i believe the rest of the PIGS might end up solving their economic problems one way or another, while in greece i don't any other alternative than withdrawal.