I feel like the Einstellung effect is something that could be worked into some sort of model of technology adoption. "...the Einstellung effect operates by biasing attention towards problem features that are associated with the familiar solution rather than the optimal solution."
An example of why I'm still a techno-optimist in general. "Dubbed the compact fusion reactor (CFR), the device is conceptually safer, cleaner and more powerful than much larger, current nuclear systems that rely on fission, the process of splitting atoms to release energy......The superhot plasma is controlled by strong magnetic fields that prevent it from touching the sides of the vessel and, if the confinement is sufficiently constrained, the ions overcome their mutual repulsion, collide and fuse."
Don't confuse welfare (or utility) with happiness. People trying to maximize welfare take happiness into account, but not just happiness.
Related to this, never underestimate the endowment effect. People hate losing *way* more than they love winning.
Malnutrition and the necessity of pollinators (e.g. bees) are highly correlated. "Crops vary in the degree to which they benefit from pollinators, and many of the most pollinator-dependent crops are also among the richest in micronutrients essential to human health. This study examines regional differences in the pollinator dependence of crop micronutrient content and reveals overlaps between this dependency and the severity of micronutrient deficiency in people around the world."
Do we dare question economic growth? Yes, yes we do. There are all sorts of reasons that progress and technological advancement do not necessarily imply GDP growth - and we could certainly see future growth involving declining input usage rather than expanding output production.