The lower end would have to be anchored very near the Equator, in the future all port citys with access to space will be on the equator whether on land sea or air.
Until we develop a working contra-gravity drive. Then beanstalks will be unneeded.
During the time that a Space elevator is the best means , a lot of commerce might need to be funnelled through a few points .
I would bet on Equador, which has high elevations on the equator aas well as easy access to Ocean travel, as a beneficiary , tho any nation whose territory extends to the Equator can play .
I also would bet that the first space elevator would terminate on a Zepplin , the first one will be the most expensive one , but it would be possible to use the first one to build the second one at a much lower cost.
A space elevator terminateing in the high atmosphere could be a lot smaller than one that reaches all the way to the ground so a Zepplin would allow the first elevator to be built with minimum tonnage , then this portable rig could be used to place other elevators one by one at every suitable location , for good fees I hope.
