When John Lennon from the Beatles was growing up, he got asked what he wanted to be. When he replied ‘happy,’ he was told he didn’t understand the assignment. But if he were living in Bhutan, his teacher’s response would have been different, as the country measures its people’s collective happiness.
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is what the King of Bhutan introduced to help measure the country’s progress. They use this instead of the measurement other countries use; gross domestic product. The Gross National Happiness Index measures a range of other factors instead of just economic measures.
Gross National Happiness gets mixed responses; however, here are some of the top things that Bhutan got right with GNH.
Good Governance
In 1972, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, told the Financial Times that ‘gross national happiness is more important than gross national product’. By 1998 the Center for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness (CNSGNH) was established to help study the country’s collective happiness. They focus on four main pillars of GNH, which are:
- Good governance
- Sustainable development
- Preservation and promotion of culture
- Environmental conservation
Good governance in the country includes the King of Bhutan introducing parliamentary democracy, with elections beginning in 2008. The King felt the introduction would help the country’s peace, collective happiness, stability, and sovereignty.
It is an example of how the Gross National Happiness Index considers specifics in the country, which can also impact the country’s economic progress.
Sustainable Development Plans
The GNH informs the different policies passed in Bhutan, including development plans. It means plans are adjusted to honor the four core pillars of the gross national happiness index. This helps maintain balance in the country, so the economic development plans aim to focus on supporting the people, not causing unnecessary levels of stress.
After all, in countries such as the US, stress levels are at an all-time high. This includes 94% of workers experiencing chronic stress at their jobs. The fact Bhutan uses its GNH means development is more sustainable and focuses on protecting the country’s overarching interests.
Healthcare and education are free in Bhutan, along with electricity. Under royal leadership, villagers also received land to help them be self-sufficient. Taking away these worries also helps people focus on their development plans.
Environmental Conservation
Bhutan also recognizes the importance of the environment with GNH. It values the importance that people can grow up in a healthy environment with a good quality of life. It also aims to focus on sustainable development by protecting natural resources.
Bhutan is trying to manage the country’s many changes, such as its new democracy, with environmental conservation. For example, the need to create jobs in villages. And the need to preserve culture while acknowledging the desire for modern amenities.
For example, its constitution includes policies such as the need to preserve 60% of its land under forest cover. And it appears to be working; the country has a lot of native wildlife, such as royal Bengal tigers, elephants, and cranes.
Preservation and Promotion of Culture
Despite the country’s size and position alongside China and India, it has managed to preserve its culture. Not only that, but it has also found a way to promote its culture to tourists in a sustainable way.
Bhutan has over two dozen languages and many isolated communities with unique cultures. Bhutan’s land is partly responsible for its valleys and high mountains. However, it is also thanks to the GNH.
Through the survey Bhutan sends out to its residents, it can understand their values and concerns. A lot has changed in the past 50 years, and now the most significant percentage of the population is under 34 years old. Some residents are concerned about the loss of culture, which is why the GNH has helped Bhutan protect traditions.
In Bhutan, emphasis on cultural celebrations and traditions continues to be part of their everyday life. For example, government officers also wear traditional dress and speak the national language of Dzongkha.
Bhutan also controls its tourist numbers to keep tourism sustainable and protect its culture. Visitors must actively contribute to Bhutan’s economic, social, and cultural development. It reinvests the money it charges tourists into programs that preserve traditions and protect Bhutan’s heritage and the environment.
Niche Markets
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index has also helped create niche markets that celebrate Bhutan’s traditions and religions, including Buddhism. For example, the country has brands such as:
- Brand Bhutan
- Believe
These brands are selling niche exports at high-end markets. It has helped manage Bhutan’s production constraints while maintaining value through its focus on quality and premium markets. These niche exports include textiles, handicrafts, and textiles.
For example, the brand Believe focuses on Bhutan’s character and landscapes. It follows the focus on high value and low volume to protect the country’s sacred places and wild landscapes.
Digital Development
It can be hard to measure digital development with the Gross National Product index. This is why Bhutan’s GNH has helped highlight and inform its digital evolution. For example, it has a TechPark that helps improve workers’ ICT skills and enterprise.
Psychological Well-being
One of the domains Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index measures is that it considers the well-being of its population. As Bhutan balances its tradition with embracing modern opportunities, the GNH is more important than ever to find ways to support its people through the transition.
It is estimated that over 792 million people worldwide live with a mental health disorders. The GNH allows the government to see where collective areas of dissatisfaction lie and take action to help enhance the well-being- of its population. It recognizes that some measurements cannot be quantified, such as mental well-being; however, these factors can still impact economic growth.
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness measurement has given the country worldwide attention. It has also influenced many decisions that continue to aid growth while protecting the country’s culture. If one thing is for sure, Bhutan recognized that economics were not the only thing that matters for a country; it is the people’s wellbeing that drives growth too.
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