Gross National Happiness
- Author(s)
- K. Ura, A. Fortacz, S. Alkire, K. Wangdi
- Abstract
Originating in Bhutan, Gross National Happiness (GNH) represents a new paradigm focused on human flourishing—on people's manifold happiness. Happiness here is multidimensional and collective, as it internalizes responsibility and other-regarding motivations for all beings and the planet explicitly. As a development philosophy as well as a personal ethos, it suggests a diversity of potential paths of human flourishing and how the government can create the causes and conditions for people to pursue diverse avenues of flourishing. Serving as the prime objective of the state, GNH is used to understand and evaluate national progress or success. For this, the GNH Index, a multidimensional measure of happiness, was constructed to guide and inform all stakeholders' efforts and actions. Based on nine dimensions and 33 indicators, it is a unique and innovative measurement and policy tool for three reasons: (i) its multidimensionality, including matters of, for example, time use, culture, social connections, and spirituality; (ii) its methodological structure providing an overall as well as detailed picture by groups and components; and (iii) its strong connection to Bhutanese government policy and programming tools, allowing for progress in improving happiness to be effectively tracked, monitored, and informed.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Geography and Regional Research
- Volume
- 3
- Pages
- 167-184
- No. of pages
- 18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820195-4.00302-2
- Publication date
- 2022
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 502008 Development economics, 504003 Poverty and social exclusion
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/17464a5d-76e1-4942-8109-ac737193dbb0