Heres a link of a video of Dick Smith (founder of Dick Smith electronics and other businesses) speaking to a business leaders event about the pitfalls of perpetual growth:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10837865

He has some interesting ideas and I thought it was great to see such a prominent figure speaking about these things publicly.  I agree with him that we have benefited greatly from the economic system we have had in our recent years, but the time has come, or is coming when we will need to change.  We can rethink our ideas about growth, progress and value to create a world which is healthier and happier for all of us.

Worth a watch.