Me:
And, in fact, bargaining theory suggests that [abandoning the “platinum coin” option] strengthens Obama’s hand.
Meanwhile, I get calls. The White House insists that it is absolutely, positively not going to cave or indeed even negotiate over the debt ceiling — that it rejected the coin option as a gesture of strength, as a way to put the onus for avoiding default entirely on the GOP.
Daniel H. Nexon is a Professor at Georgetown University, with a joint appointment in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service. His academic work focuses on international-relations theory, power politics, empires and hegemony, and international order. He has also written on the relationship between popular culture and world politics.
All depends on how you look at the BATNAs… is having a trillion dollar coin a good alternative to an agreement or a bad alternative?
It depends on what you mean by “agreement” and what the probability of the outcomes are, no?