We already see this happening. As more and more people become super-rich, that class of individuals spends more and more conspicuously, but it doesn't trickle

We already see this happening. As more and more people become super-rich, that class of individuals spends more and more conspicuously, but it doesn't trickle down. The loop through resource identification, extraction, processing, manufacturing, and delivery only needs two things: resources ownership and automation. One person by themselves could conceivably operate that economy. This is no different from any hermit or commune at any time. Just a richer more technological hermit and a more geographically distributed commune. Another perspective: If 99.9% were slaves only given enough to eat and work, would there be an economy? Yes. If the slaves were replaced by automation would that stall the economy. No. There