IS BHUTAN REALLY A HAPPY NATION?
Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.
- Thomas Jefferson
Bhutan is a tiny mountainous kingdom which demonstrates its priorities for the welfare of its citizens in the concept called Gross National Happiness. Kingdom of Bhutan is believed to be the only nation in the world to measure the country’s development and happiness of the citizens. Bhutan has been placed 8th in the World Map of Happiness based on the parameters of life expectancy, access to education, GDP per capita and life satisfaction. Country has measured prosperity through principles of gross national happiness and the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health of its citizens.
Bhutan is a place where people enjoy life, and where economics is not the only thing that matters. Government is more concern about the wellbeing of the citizen’s. Gross Domestic Product is a good tool to measure economy growth of the country but it might not be a good tool to measure the wellbeing of citizens. The RGOB has been quite successful in implementing their programs with a focus on GNH rather than focus on just improving economic indicators. Bhutan has recognized four crucial factor of happiness such as Economic development, Environmental preservation, Cultural preservation and promotion and Good governance.
According to a survey conducted in 2010 by the government, and published by the Center for Bhutanese studies, the GNH value is 0.743 (out of a 1.0 scale). This means that 40.9% of Bhutanese are happy. When we compare with other developing nations, Bhutan is lagging behind ...
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REFERENCE;
Frey, Bruno S and Alis Stutzer. (2002). The Economics of Happiness. World Economics. Vol 3(1) Jan-March. pp 1-17.
Shortryia, V. K. (2007). How happy are the people in Bhutan?A study from the perspective quality of life. International conference on happiness and public policy. Bangkok: North Eastern University.
Atamen. (2012). Are people happy in the kingdom of Bhutan? Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/01/bhutan-wealth-happiness-counts
Buncombe,A.(2012). Is Bhutan the happiest place in the world? Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/is-bhutan-the-happiest-place-in-the-world-6288053.html
Canan,L. (2010). Bhutan: The happiest country. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.oneworldeducation.org/bhutan-worlds-happiest-country
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