I had this idea after reading a few chapters of the book I'm reviewing, Space Mission Analysis and Design (It is really dense, it could take me a while to review everything). Basically, I feel one of the economic arguments for a moon base could be an infinite regression. Right now, moon bases have plans to become spaceports and spaceship factories. This is suppose to support voyages elsewhere. However, I ask why is it economical viable to go elsewhere. If the answer is to hop to the next place to get resources to keep hopping or to stop at the next spaceport, it is an infinite regression. This model will work for science exploration in space, but for businesses and to make a profit, you will have to justify going to elsewhere. If you do not have a great way to profit else where, the moon factory won't make money.
Now, a real reason that can be economically supported is launching satellites from a moon base. That could be a great reason to settle the moon.
