Gross National Happiness

Definition

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a holistic approach to development that measures the collective happiness and well-being of a population, rather than focusing solely on economic growth as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It emphasizes the importance of non-economic factors, such as mental health, community engagement, and environmental sustainability, in assessing a society's overall progress and prosperity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Gross National Happiness was first developed and implemented as a national development philosophy in Bhutan, a small Himalayan country, in the 1970s.
2. GNH measures progress across nine domains: psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards.
3. GNH emphasizes the importance of balancing economic development with environmental protection, cultural preservation, and the promotion of mental and physical well-being.
4. The GNH approach has been influential in inspiring other countries and organizations to consider alternative measures of progress beyond just GDP, such as the OECD's Better Life Index and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
5. Proponents of GNH argue that it provides a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of a society's well-being compared to traditional economic measures like GDP, which can overlook important non-economic factors.

Review Questions

• Explain how Gross National Happiness (GNH) differs from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of a society's well-being.
  • Gross National Happiness (GNH) differs from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in that it takes a more holistic approach to measuring a society's well-being. While GDP focuses solely on economic output and growth, GNH considers a broader range of factors, including mental health, community engagement, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. GNH recognizes that a high GDP does not necessarily translate to overall societal happiness and well-being, and that non-economic factors play a crucial role in a population's quality of life and long-term prosperity.
• Describe how the nine domains of Gross National Happiness (GNH) provide a more comprehensive assessment of a society's progress compared to traditional economic measures.
  • The nine domains of Gross National Happiness (GNH) - psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards - offer a much more comprehensive assessment of a society's progress compared to traditional economic measures like GDP. These domains capture a wide range of social, environmental, and governance factors that are essential for the overall well-being and sustainable development of a population. By considering these interconnected aspects, GNH provides a more holistic understanding of a society's progress and challenges, allowing policymakers to make more informed decisions that address the multifaceted needs of the people.
• Evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of adopting a Gross National Happiness (GNH) approach to development, compared to a GDP-focused model, in the context of how well GDP measures the well-being of society.
  • Adopting a Gross National Happiness (GNH) approach to development, compared to a GDP-focused model, could offer significant benefits in terms of how well GDP measures the well-being of society. The GNH framework recognizes that economic growth alone does not necessarily translate to improved societal well-being, and that factors such as mental health, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation are crucial for long-term prosperity. By considering these non-economic dimensions, GNH provides a more holistic and accurate assessment of a population's overall quality of life. However, implementing GNH also presents challenges, such as the difficulty in quantifying and measuring certain subjective well-being indicators, the potential for political influence in defining the GNH framework, and the need for a significant shift in mindset and policy priorities away from a singular focus on GDP growth. Ultimately, the adoption of a GNH approach could lead to more informed and balanced development decisions that better address the multifaceted needs of a society, but it would require overcoming various practical and conceptual hurdles.

Related terms

Subjective Well-Being: A measure of an individual's or a population's overall life satisfaction, positive emotions, and lack of negative emotions.

Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, focusing on the balance between economic, social, and environmental factors.

Ecological Footprint: A measure of the amount of biologically productive land and water required to support the demands of a population or activity, considering the resources consumed and waste generated.