As far as Germany is concerned, the drama of the euro crisis is over. The subject was barely discussed in the country's recent election campaign. Chancellor Angela Merkel did what was necessary to ensure the euro's survival, and she did so at the least possible cost to Germany — a feat that earned her the support of pro-European Germans as well as those who trust her to protect German interests. Not surprisingly, she won re-election resoundingly.
But it was a Pyrrhic victory. The eurozone status quo is neither tolerable nor stable. Mainstream economists would call it an inferior equilibrium. I call it a nightmare — one that is inflicting tremendous pain and suffering that could be easily avoided if the misconceptions and taboos that sustain it were dispelled.
The problem is that the debtor countries feel all the pain while the creditors impose the misconceptions and taboos.