How Bhutan Measures Its National Development by Happiness Instead of Wealth

When we think of national development, we usually think of economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures the total value of goods and services produced in a country. However, GDP does not capture other aspects of well-being, such as health, education, culture, environment, and happiness. That is why Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom, has adopted a different approach to measure its national development: Gross National Happiness (GNH).

Gross National Happiness is a term coined by the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in 1972. He said that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product”. The concept implies that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards notions of progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of well-being. In this article, we will explore what GNH is, how it is measured, and what benefits it brings to Bhutan and the world.

What is Gross National Happiness and how is it measured?

Gross National Happiness is a philosophy that guides the government of Bhutan. It includes an index which is used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of the population. GNH is enshrined as the goal of the government of Bhutan in the Constitution of Bhutan, enacted in 2008.

According to the government of Bhutan, GNH has four pillars: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development; environmental conservation; preservation and promotion of culture; and good governance. These pillars are further divided into nine domains: psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards. Each domain has a set of indicators that are used to measure the level of happiness and well-being in each aspect. There are 33 indicators in total, covering both subjective (survey-based) and objective (data-based) measures.

For example, some of the indicators for psychological well-being are frequency of prayer, meditation, generosity, jealousy, calmness, compassion, frustration, and suicidal thoughts. Some of the indicators for ecological diversity and resilience are percentage of forest cover, carbon emissions per capita, renewable energy consumption, and wildlife damage.

The GNH index is calculated by using a sophisticated methodology that assigns different weights to each indicator and domain. The index ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating higher levels of happiness and well-being. The index is updated every five years based on nationwide surveys and data collection.

What are the benefits of Gross National Happiness?

Gross National Happiness has several benefits for Bhutan and the world. Some of the benefits are:

  • It provides a more comprehensive and balanced measure of national development than GDP. GDP only reflects the economic performance of a country, but does not account for the social, environmental, and cultural costs and benefits. GNH captures both the material and non-material aspects of well-being, and recognizes that happiness is not only determined by income, but also by other factors such as health, education, culture, environment, and governance.
  • It guides the policies and priorities of the government towards enhancing happiness and well-being for all. The government of Bhutan uses GNH as a framework to design and implement policies that are aligned with the values and aspirations of its people. For example, the government allocates resources to promote universal health care, free education, cultural preservation, environmental protection, and good governance. The government also evaluates the impact of its policies on GNH using a tool called GNH Policy Screening Tool .
  • It inspires other countries and organizations to adopt a holistic approach to development. GNH has attracted global attention as an alternative paradigm to conventional development models that focus on economic growth at the expense of social and environmental well-being. In 2011, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution that recognized happiness as a "fundamental human goal" and called for "a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and well-being of all peoples". In 2012, Bhutan hosted a high-level meeting at the UN to discuss a new economic paradigm based on GNH. The meeting resulted in the first World Happiness Report , which ranks countries by their happiness levels based on various indicators. The UN also declared March 20 as the International Day of Happiness to celebrate and promote happiness as a universal goal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gross National Happiness is a unique and innovative way to measure national development by happiness instead of wealth. GNH is based on the philosophy that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of well-being. GNH has four pillars and nine domains that cover various aspects of happiness and well-being, and uses an index to measure and monitor them. GNH has several benefits for Bhutan and the world, such as providing a more comprehensive and balanced measure of development, guiding the policies and priorities of the government, and inspiring other countries and organizations to adopt a holistic approach to development.

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