I think we could get it right eventually, but the only solution I can imagine seems to be along the lines of a universal basic income, or access to basic resources (food, water, shelter, education, clothing, healthcare, etc.) without cost.

Given the resistance we are currently observing to Obamacare, the fact that "socialism" is regularly bandied at the current administration as a pejorative and the disdain for "handouts", this seems like a stretch. Perhaps we'll get there eventually, but not before a lot of pain.

Judging from the past, we won't be able to solve this challenge. Some thought that the industrial revolution would let everyone work shorter hours but still make enough money, but the result was fewer workers working for longer, and most of the rewards of production going to capital rather than labour.

The resurgence of right-wing movements means that any ideas about sharing national income with the unemployed will probably be laughed out of the room.