The globe can't sustain 6 billion people living a 'First World' lifestyle.  The globe can't sustain the people currently living a 'First World' lifestyle living a 'First World' lifestyle.  We need to greatly expand the available resources, especially power, see that some form of lagom becomes culturally operative, or a whole lot people will die over the next century.

Note: the OR is Inclusive.

"Equality comes at a price."  True and I do not disagree.  I submit rampant individualism also comes at a price.  Sweden, if I may, is the poster child for the Price of Equality while the US is the shining example of the Price of Rampant Individualism.  Having had my fill of the latter I wouldn't mind, at all, a goodly dollop of the former.  Given what you, and others, have posted it is apparent Your Mileage most certainly Does Vary.  Once again, I do not take issue with that.  I would maintain there is much to admire in the 'Scandinavian Model' but neither do I have any illusions about it.  As much as I detest the 'US Model' I still recognize there are good things about it as well.

Over the next 50 years, or so, tho' I fully expect these two systems to be challenged.  I further expect the 'Swedish Model' to be the superior system and the basis of that superiority is lagom.  What I don't expect is innovative methods for dealing with the challenges to come from a Swedish Model but I do expect them from the US Model.  

But the general level of pain and suffering will be greater under the US Model.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre