GDP, meaning gross domestic product, is a term that most commonly is used to describe the health and success of an economy. In our modern world, a world run by capitalist ideals, having the most fruitful industries is the marker of a worthwhile country. But as we grow as a society, and learn more and more about the limits of a money-focused world, we are able to open up to other ways of defining success.
Hidden in the curve of the great Himalayas is a small country called Bhutan. Bhutan, which has been historically known as an isolated kingdom, has become increasingly more well-known in the 20th century. Though only accessible by a few airplanes, this country has been able to amass one of the fastest-growing GDPs in the world. However, this is not their most important measure of success as a country. Instead, they follow a system called GNH; Gross National Happiness.
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The idea of GNH started in Bhutan after they opened their country to globalization. Rather than focusing on the statistical measurement of GDP, they chose to measure their people’s quality of life by utilizing the basics of human needs. Coined by the fourth king of Bhutan, the concept of GNH is comprised of nine domains; psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards. In addition, there are four main pillars of the system; good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.
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GNH can be split up by population group (men, women, district, etc), but generally classifies people as unhappy, narrowly happy, extensively happy, and deeply happy. Using this metric, the Bhutanese government can not only understand what gives their people happiness in the present moment,but also allows them to see where more policies and changes can be added to increase the happiness of unhappy and narrowly happy citizens. Using their system, generally, 10.4% of Bhutanese people are “unhappy,” 48.7% are “narrowly happy,” 32.6% are “extensively happy”, and 8.3% are “deeply happy.”
Often called “the Switzerland of Asia” and “The Happiest Place in the World”, Bhutan has not only locked down a way to increase happiness within its community but has been able to reap the benefits. With the conservation of the environment being one of their pillars, the people of Bhutan are brought up to value their home and its environment, wanting to protect it without the need for laws or rules to tell them to do so. In addition, Bhutanese people never fail to show their appreciation for their culture, often wearing traditional outfits in their day-to-day, while also being kind and welcoming to outside visitors. It may be hard to believe that a country only about the size of Indiana has been called the “Happiest country in the world,” but through people-focused policies and a genuine interest in their citizen’s well-being, Bhutan has earned that title
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Bhutan/Education#ref25031
https://ophi.org.uk/policy/gross-national-happiness-index/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20'gross%20national%20happiness,approach%20towards%20notions%20of%20progress
https://www.oneworldeducation.org/our-students-writing/bhutan-the-worlds-happiest-country/
https://www.thomascook.in/blog/why-bhutan-is-the-happiest-country-in-the-world#:~:text=Travel%20to%20Bhutan%2C%20also%20known,happiest%20country%20in%20the%20world
https://www.britannica.com/place/Bhutan/Education#ref25031
https://ophi.org.uk/policy/gross-national-happiness-index/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20'gross%20national%20happiness,approach%20towards%20notions%20of%20progress
https://www.oneworldeducation.org/our-students-writing/bhutan-the-worlds-happiest-country/
https://www.thomascook.in/blog/why-bhutan-is-the-happiest-country-in-the-world#:~:text=Travel%20to%20Bhutan%2C%20also%20known,happiest%20country%20in%20the%20world