Dear Ladislav, I share your view that the problem framed by the essay question is simply impossible to solve. Faced with forthcoming systemic multi-dimensional crisis, given the strong inertial tendencies of modern institutional and power structures, let's first consider whether, and if yes how can we decelerate adverse trends (and thus maintain our well-being) before thinking how we can improve it!

Your essay concludes that it is impossible to improve well-being and by that, I assume you mean material affluence. While it is necessary to guarantee a minimal level of affluence to cater for a satisfactory level of practical support and comfort for all, well-being remains a very subjective thing. Indeed, there is quite some evidence of people who aren't happy with much and others very happy with little! Thus, there might be room for exploration there before concluding that well-being will necessarily collapse ? ;)

Well, basically yes - I agree that well-being of a society is not JUST a question of the available resources, but I think that most people on the planet who live in poverty would be happy if they had a warm meal at least once each day. I don't know if you are familiar with Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs - for example according to it you cannot be satisfied if some basic preconditions (like the availability of food or water) are not met, and when we take into account that resources like fossil fuels, drinking water or arable land are becomming scarce we must conclude that the times are changing to the worse.