For some more concrete reading, try The High Frontier by Gerard O'Neill[1]. He makes the opposite case; arguing that orbital habitats could have a net positive

For some more concrete reading, try The High Frontier by Gerard O'Neill[1]. He makes the opposite case; arguing that orbital habitats could have a net positive economic return in fairly short order. [1]: https://www.amazon.com/High-Frontier-Human-Colonies-Apogee/dp/189652267X https://www.amazon.com/High-Frontier-Human-Colonies-Apogee/d...