[Travis McGee]

In terms of rats fleeing a sinking ship, or conspirators seeking immunity deals from DAs, is there any advantage to the country which jumps out of the EMU first?

Is there a dynamic at play to cause any nation to want to jump first?

[RegulatorCountry]

Want to jump, rather than being pushed? The haves. France won't fall on their swords for anybody, too arrogant for one, too much of a sense of national survival on the other. When they've rolled over it was to live to fight another day, or the conflict ceased being beneficial to the French. Germany worries me as far as their national psyche if there really is such a thing. Aspirations of controlling all of Europe didn't begin with Hitler and didn't die with him, either.

[piytar]

For the moribund economies, it won’t help and will probably hurt. The EU will try to bleed the productive economies dry in a futile attempt to salvage the whole mess.

The first semi-functional economy that gets out will feel some short term pain but will be in the best position to capitalize on the inevitable collapse in Europe.

The next one? Too late - they’ll get sucked into the black hole of socialist debt.

Regardless, this is going to get ugly. And like WWII, the trigger will be something that seems small - a proverbail straw breaking the Euro’s back. And it will quickly descend into Hell...