i would recommend Thomas Pickety's book "Capitalism in the 21st Century". very tough reading and deals with what will need to be done to maintain financial, societal and cultural stability as computerisation and robot workers continue to advance in all segments of production; from heavy industry (automobiles, for instance) steel, raw products, home care for shut-ins and service and medical positions.

Norway is expiramenting with 2,000 families who are unemployable and providing base payments so they may avoid poverty. in doing so, it is freely admitted by the government that providing such a baseline payment for all eligible individuals is unsustainable. the focus of this narrow expirament is to see the emotional effect it has on the stability of the family.

one thing not mentioned in any of the current studies, other than Pickety's book, is the limitation of population. China's "One Child" expirament has not worked, but that may be because it was conducted too soon.

as we look at the approximate 1 million political and economic refugees and the instability it has caused, due to the political, social and economic systems in place throughout the world, it is a cause for great concern in all countries. none will remain unaffected by this.

and we need to begin discussing this now, as this future is already here and will only continue to affect everyone more and more.

and as you say, ideology will play little to no part in these discussions. belief will no longer stand up against what is already beginning to occur.

In a perfect world, your thesis may have some validity. However, in the real world, involving real people, your "sustainability" models just don't work.

First, people have neither the time, nor the inclination, to do reams of research on each and every product which they consume. And the folks who espouse this, don't have the expertise, either.

Capitalism is effective because of the division of labor, folks becoming more specialized in their labor. Failure to specialize means the end of technological advance, ergo, the end of scientific advancement. Technology always precedes science.

Alternative energy sources, bio- and solar, are not sustainable. In solar, there has to be some manner of energy storage for the periods which there is no sunlight. That's battery, and it means that the energy has to be converted from DC to AC for transmission and usage. Bio fuels are hugely inefficient. The cost of production is double the cost to produce the crop. And fuels like ethanol are corrosive, even to stainless steel. Corn is a food, and the reduction in available land to produce food, causes a huge financial hardship on the poor, who have to pay more just to subsist.

The most economical means of energy production is through oil, coal, and nuclear. Oil reserves are huge, and even at current estimates of usage, will last for over 100 years. Coal is the original renewable energy source. It was created 350 million years ago through photosynthesis, and in its most economical usage, provides cheap energy to millions. In fact, its usage to the most poor of countries, would enable them to raise the standard of living and improve their economic lives. Nuclear is the most economical, and with the exception of the stupidity of the Soviet Union, has been safe beyond any other energy source. (Three Mile Island's problem was the result of human error, ignoring the reactor's warnings)

The costs of materials, whether steel, plastics, textiles, are inelastic in economic terms. Their costs as commodities on the world markets are governed there. If you want to sell iron ore or oil, you can't sell for less than the market price very long. Labor costs are also inelastic in any particular country because of unions, labor laws, etc. Labor laws in France do not translate to labor laws in South Africa. In the total cost of goods sold, indirect costs are widely variable depending on where the goods are produced; for the same reasons as labor.

Economic development must be evolutionary, as is life itself. An economic group can't skip from Step B, to Step E, and not pay a dear price. Developing countries must build infrastructure, and at times the most simplistic of means. Road, sanitary facilities, food markets, and other parts just can't be skipped.