Joiningthe euromay have allowedItalyto borrow at lowerrates than under the lira, butit alsodeniedRomethe deflationary options toraiseearningsthoughexportsandtourism.
Yet the analogy with Argentina might have been closer still had Italy retained the lira, and thus been subject to the same sort of speculative pressure that eventually broke Argentina's link to the dollar.
Without necessary reforms, eventually this vicious circle of stagdeflation would force Italy to exit EMU, return to the Lira and default on its Euro debts.