[Old North State]

I don’t see a complete muni-bond melt down due to the Detroit situation, let alone a full bond market collapse. Insurers and lenders, many of them foreign, took big risks on Detroit to get better returns. Looks like they lost, but most US cities and towns are not in the same desperate straits as Detroit. There will be losses, and a restructuring of the bond market - but that’s a good thing if it brings discipline and restraint. Lenders and insurers will start looking at political subdivisions with a more critical eye, charging premiums for the profligate, and, one would hope, reigning in the unending desire to spend other people’s money. (Cue Monty Python)Always look on the bright side of life ....

[expat2]

The problem is that a couple of years ago, Detroit was listed as only the 9th most likely to default. More likely were:
Philadelphia,
Chicago,
Boston,
Cincinnati,
St. Paul,
Jackonsville,
New York City,
Baltimore.

Detroit was supposed to be able to hang on until about 2023 but......

The fact that it will now be harder for cities to sell bonds is going to make them more likely to have to default. You are right about discipline and restraint, but that is not politically possible without declaring bankruptcy first.