Likely, the early stages of the solar economy will resemble the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 16-19th centuries[0]. In the horrific middle passage, slaves were'so

Likely, the early stages of the solar economy will resemble the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 16-19th centuries[0]. In the horrific middle passage, slaves were'sourced' from Africa and sent to the Caribbean for work on the plantations. Then the cash crops of cotton, sugar, tobacco, etc were sent to the manufacturing centers of North America/Europe. These manufacturing centers then sent finished goods like guns and ammo back to the colonies. Sir John Hawkins, a pioneer of British slaving, was the first to run that route, making a profit at every stop[1]. Similarly, we can expect that the early solar economy will provide opportunities for the same, though there is a lot of still undiscovered issues at hand. Here, Mars/Moon will make the food and other 'simple' goods that are then sent to the Asteroid Belt. This is because the delta-V to get foodstuffs and goods off Mars/Moon is a lot less than on Earth and, depending on more surveying, there seems to be a fair bit of water on Mars that you can use. It seems thus far that corn-pone and beef-steaks do not grow well in 0G, though that remains to be seen. These simple goods and food-stuffs will then be consumed by the Asteroid Belt in the use of mining for rare-earth elements and in production of vehicles and fuel for use in the outer solar system. The mined elements and materials will then be sent back to Earth for use in highly complex machines and other things. Highly complicated machines built by people that do not want to raise their kids in the Belt or on Mars/Moon will then be sent to Mars/Moon for use in production of simpler goods. A company with skills in (robotic?) space shipping and landing could make a profit at every gravity well. This triangular trade is not likely to last very long as greenhouses are set-up (if possible) in the belt, manufacturing and leisure are made easier on Mars/Moon, and as techniques and science are improved on Earth. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander)