How do we Measure Progress?

I’ve been thinking about this question since my last quarter at Seattle Pacific University, subsequently it is an underlying theme of my thesis. Progress is a tricky thing, although rich people can update cars, computers and styles, is that all really progress? I know buying thins stimulated the economy, but are things really getting “better” if big ticket items are being purchased? Should we really invest all out money into making more money? How much money is enough to make us satisfied with life? Can we stop making money, even if we wanted too?