After reading this question by Nick M (now closed) and exchanging some comments with him, I have some ideas related to the scenario. I realized that the comprehensive design covers several distinct topics and is not what the question asked, so I’m posting the questions I did answer, as new questions.
What would be a good economic framework to drive the motives of independent crews of Kessler Remediation and Salvage (KR&S) companies?
The KR&S companies clear debris from Earth orbit. They compete for profit and eek out a margin.
But rather than being an efficient well-planned system that fairly divides effort and profit among all involved, it should resemble a system that emerges organically out of a long history of contracts and cut-throat deals, from participants who act selfishly for their own short-term gains.
This can be used as a background for a role-playing game, a strategy game, (or a combined role-playing strategy game!), or a story that has a complex plot in the manner of an action/political thriller.
Besides the KR&S crews, note what other roles are available for players. Players can both cooperate and compete with players in different roles and others in the same role. In general, it should provide for maximum dramatic potential — or stated less dramatically, provide for conflict, differing motives among the players, and the ability to act on these conflicting motives independently of what other players are doing.
The tech level is near-future, with realistic things extrapolated from today’s designs. No 'magic' unobtainium!