We're talking about a country, and it's ability to refinance... their mathematical model based upon their economic activity, assets and future outlook set's what they can borrow to cover deficits in the open markets. From what I've read, Italy has just enough girth to handle paying interest rates no more than a certain nominal amount, once past that, the volatility rises beyond the accepted standard deviation. Once their ability to refinance is gone, so is their ability to run deficits-- hence "austerity" to bring their economic model back into line.
The problem is, and always has been; is that capitalism is just another word for rape and people are just starting to recognize this-- this process starts with protests, ends with guillotines.
FP........................................................