From afar, it would be easy to underestimate how thoroughly depositors in Spain and Italy understand that they are inside the magic circle of "core Europe" and have nothing to fear from the Cyprus precedent, in which insured bank depositors might be asked partly to pay for their own bailout.

WSJ: Jenkins: Yes, Let's 'Bail In' Depositors

While a string of temporary sexual encounters might appear glamorous on celluloid, in contemporary reality this fear of commitment and resistance to emotional intimacy might trigger worry in a normal social circle.

BBC: James Bond: How his sex life compares with an average man

Proponents of these measures fear that businesses will retrench as prices fall and their debts rise, creating a vicious circle.

ECONOMIST: Is Japan back in a deflationary trap?