Something new / old to read. I would add a few more, but this is a decent start.
http://io9.com/10-space-empires-that-actually-make-economic-sense-1638660725?
"A far-flung interplanetary civilization combines the romance of exploration with the pride and cool-factor of building something. But not every star-spanning regime is a viable proposition. Here are 10 star-empires from science fiction that make economic sense."
for brevity, and this isn't click bait:
1) The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
2) The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov
3) Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
4) Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh
5) Firefly
6) The Night Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
7) Dune by Frank Herbert
8) The Expanse by James S.A. Corey
9) 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10) The Space Merchants by Fredrik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth
http://io9.com/10-space-empires-that-actually-make-economic-sense-1638660725?
"A far-flung interplanetary civilization combines the romance of exploration with the pride and cool-factor of building something. But not every star-spanning regime is a viable proposition. Here are 10 star-empires from science fiction that make economic sense."
for brevity, and this isn't click bait:
1) The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
2) The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov
3) Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
4) Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh
5) Firefly
6) The Night Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
7) Dune by Frank Herbert
8) The Expanse by James S.A. Corey
9) 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10) The Space Merchants by Fredrik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth