Part of our problem is that humans are just too productive -- we're changing the landscape too much, working too many hours, making too much money, etc. And at the same time we're neglecting proper sleep, caring for our children, continuing education, citizenship participation...etc.
So my solution is that we cut down the workweek so that we have time for rearing our children and caring for our health and family, we don't destroy the environment at this rapid pace...and we consume less because we have less money burning a hole in our pockets.
McKibben found in his research that after we make $20,000 a year, happiness declines! So... let's make $20K and go be happy after that. And give someone else an opportunity to make their $20k.
I know that sounds really weird, but I actually know a young man who does that on again, off again method of working in computer programming and is very happy doing it. He works from home, so maybe it is a prototype for more of us.
Groups:
What Drives "Our" Productivity
So many ways to write to this idea, and so many have already - I favor Peter Kropotkin, Thorstein Veblen and Karl Polani. They all were born in the 19th century and died in the 20th. Just about everything written on this subject they addressed first. Most of us accept the water we swim in without question. We're socialized to compete for social status by income for the most part, and that is a powerful driver. So long as corporate/commercial profits linked to unit sales drive social evolution we're toast. The two most effective intervention points are 1. delinking profit from unit sales - instead link it to services provided. Numerous industires have made inroads here (eg photocopying and "floor treatments" (carpet); and 2. changing motivation and success "end points" so that individuals organize their lives for attainment other than dying with the most toys. Identifying these intervention points is the easy part. I believe that strong communities and social networks are the best means to offer an alternative to striving for lots of money and stuff.