Gross National Happiness#Bhutanese GNH index

The advent and concept of "Gross National Happiness" (GNH) germinated in the mind of Bodhisattva Druk Gyelpo, the 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, groomed with the evolution of "Gaki Phuensum" (Peace and Prosperity) and the modernization period of Bhutan during the reign of Druk Gyelpo, the 3rd King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

The term "Gross National Happiness" as conceptualized by the 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in 1972 was declared, "more important than Gross Domestic Product."{{Cite news|last=Revkin|first=Andrew C.|date=2005-10-04|title=A New Measure of Well-BeingFrom a Happy Little Kingdom|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/science/a-new-measure-of-wellbeingfrom-a-happy-little-kingdom.html|access-date=2021-06-30|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |title=What Bhutan got right about happiness - and what other countries can learn |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/lessons-from-bhutan-economic-development/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |work=World Economic Forum |date=25 October 2021 |language=en}} The concept implies that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards notions of progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of wellbeing.{{Cite web|url=https://ophi.org.uk/policy/gross-national-happiness-index/|title=Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index | OPHI|website=ophi.org.uk}} When defining Gross National Happiness (GNH), the king drew inspiration from Bhutan’s long-standing tradition of compassion and non-violence toward all living beings, rooted in its 1,200-year Buddhist heritage.{{cite web |title=THE BERKSHIRE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SUSTAINABILITY: MEASUREMENTS, INDICATORS, AND RESEARCH METHODS FOR SUSTAINABILITY |url=https://www.berkshirepublishing.com/ |website=GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESSLS |publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group |access-date=10 February 2025}}

In 2011, The UN General Assembly passed resolution 65/309, "Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development", urging member nations to follow the example of Bhutan and measure happiness and well-being and calling happiness a "fundamental human goal."{{Cite web|url=http://repository.un.org/handle/11176/291712|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017150819/http://repository.un.org/handle/11176/291712|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-10-17|title=Happiness : towards a holistic approach to development : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly}}

In 2012, Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley and the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations convened the High-Level Meeting: Well-being and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm to encourage the spread of Bhutan's GNH philosophy.{{Cite web|url=https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=617&menu=35|title=Defining a New Economic Paradigm: The Report of the High-Level Meeting on Wellbeing and Happiness|author=Bhutan|date=2012|publisher=United Nations|access-date=16 February 2018}} At the meeting, the first World Happiness Report was issued. Shortly afterward, 20 March was declared to be the International Day of Happiness by the UN in 2012 with resolution 66/28.{{Cite web|url=http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/66/281|title=Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 28 June 2012 66/281. International Day of Happiness}}

Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay proclaimed a preference for focusing on more concrete goals instead of promoting GNH when he took office,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/world/asia/index-of-happiness-bhutans-new-leader-prefers-more-concrete-goals.html|title=Index of Happiness? Bhutan's New Leader Prefers More Concrete Goals|last1=Harris|first1=Gardiner|date=4 October 2013|work=The New York Times}} but subsequently has protected the GNH of his country and promoted the concept internationally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/tshering_tobgay_this_country_isn_t_just_carbon_neutral_it_s_carbon_negative|first=Tshering | last=Tobgay | title=This country isn't just carbon neutral, it's carbon negative | publisher=TED |date=2016|website=TED.com|access-date=17 February 2018}} Other Bhutanese officials also promote the spread of GNH at the UN and internationally.{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/10/511502-pursuit-happiness-fundamental-human-goal-minister-bhutan-tells-un-assembly|title=Pursuit of happiness is fundamental human goal,' Minister of Bhutan tells UN Assembly|date=3 October 2015 | publisher=UN News |access-date=17 February 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/world/asia/bhutan-gross-national-happiness-indicator-.html|title=In Bhutan, Happiness Index as Gauge for Social Ills|last=Schultz|first=Kai|date=17 January 2017|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=17 February 2018}}

GNH is distinguishable from Gross Domestic Product by attempting to be a more direct measure of collective happiness through emphasizing harmony with nature and select cultural values, as expressed in the 9 domains of happiness and 4 pillars of GNH.{{cite book|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/An%20Extensive%20Analysis%20of%20GNH%20Index.pdf|title=An Extensive Analysis of GNH Index|last1=Ura|first1=Karma|last2=Alkire|first2=Sabina|last3=Zangmo |first3=Tshoki|last4=Wangdi|first4=Karma|date=May 2012|publisher=The Centre for Bhutan Studies|location=Thimphu, Bhutan|access-date=1 April 2017}} According to the Bhutanese government, the four pillars of GNH are:{{cite book|title=Tenth Five-Year Plan: 2008–2013|publisher=Gross National Happiness Commission – Royal Government of Bhutan, Actual Date of Publishing 25 June 2009|location=Thimphu, Bhutan|url=http://www.gnhc.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2011/10thplan/TenthPlan_Vol1_Web.pdf|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308050118/http://www.gnhc.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2011/10thplan/TenthPlan_Vol1_Web.pdf|archive-date=8 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

1. sustainable and equitable socio-economic development;
2. environmental conservation;
3. preservation and promotion of culture; and
4. good governance.

The nine domains of GNH are:{{cite journal |last1=Ura |first1=Karma |date=2008 |title=Understanding the Development Philosophy of Gross National Happiness |journal=Interview with Bhutan Broadcasting Service}}{{cite web |title=Welcome to the CBS's works on Gross National Happiness! |url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508184519/http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/ |archive-date=8 May 2020 |access-date=1 April 2017 |website=Gross National Happiness |publisher=www.grossnationalhappiness.com/}}{{cite news |title=Gross National Happiness represents the holistic potential of our mind and body: Dasho Karma Ura |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/happiness-quest/story/gross-national-happiness-represents-the-holistic-potential-of-our-mind-and-body-dasho-karma-ura-1859259-2021-09-30 |work=India Today |language=en}}

1. psychological well-being
2. health
3. time use
4. education
5. cultural diversity and resilience
6. good governance
7. community vitality
8. ecological diversity and resilience
9. living standards

Each domain is composed of subjective (survey-based) and objective indicators. The domains weigh equally but the indicators within each domain differ by weight.{{Cite journal|last=Ura|first=Karma|date=2012|title=A Short Guide to the Gross National Happiness Index|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Short-GNH-Index-edited.pdf|journal=The Centre for Bhutan Studies}}

Individuals are then classified by their scores on the indicators, and reported as happy (deeply happy or extensively happy) or not-yet-happy (narrowly happy or unhappy).[https://ophi.org.uk/gross-national-happiness Gross National Happiness], Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)

Several scholars have noted that "the values underlying the individual pillars of GNH are defined as distinctly Buddhist," and "GNH constructs Buddhism as the core of the cultural values of the country (of Bhutan). They provide the foundation upon which the GNH rests."Kent Schroeder, Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan, Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 27. GNH is thus seen as part of the Buddhist Middle Way, where "happiness is accrued from a balanced act rather than from an extreme approach."Chhewang Rinzin, On the Middle Path: The Social Basis for Sustainable Development in Bhutan, Utrecht: Copernicus Institute, 2006, 3.

The body charged with implementing GNH in Bhutan is the Gross National Happiness Commission.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnhc.gov.bt/en/|title=Gross National Happiness Commission}} The GNH Commission is composed of the Prime Minister as the Chairperson, Secretaries of each of the ministries of the government, and the Secretary of the GNH Commission.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnhc.gov.bt/en/commission-members/|title=Commission Members|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125170201/https://www.gnhc.gov.bt/en/commission-members/|url-status=dead}} The GNH Commission's tasks include conceiving and also implementing the nation's 5-year plan and promulgating policies. The GNH Index is used to measure the happiness and well-being of Bhutan's population. A GNH Policy Screening Tool{{Cite web|url=https://www.gnhcentrebhutan.org/gnh-screening-tool/|title=GNH SCREENING TOOL – GNH Centre Bhutan}} and a GNH Project Screening Tool is used by the GNH commission to determine whether to pass policies or implement projects.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/gnh-policy-and-project-screening-tools/|title=GNH Tools|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101100049/http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/gnh-policy-and-project-screening-tools/|url-status=dead}} The GNH Screening tools are used by the Bhutanese GNH Commission for anticipating the impact of policy initiatives upon the levels of GNH in Bhutan.{{cite journal|last1=Pennock|first1=M|last2=Ura|first2=K|year=2011|title=Gross national happiness as a framework for health impact assessment|journal=Environmental Impact Assessment Review|volume=31|issue=1|pages=61–65|doi=10.1016/j.eiar.2010.04.003|bibcode=2011EIARv..31...61P}}

In 2008, the first Bhutanese GNH survey was conducted.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/site/ssfc2011/48920513.pdf|title=The Gross National Happiness Index of Bhutan. Method and Illustrative Results|website=OECD.org}}{{Cite journal|last=Alkire|first=Sabina|date=November 2008|title=Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index : methodology and results|url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:fe52b6a2-94c7-4663-89aa-d09c19d32ab8|journal=Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative}} It was followed by a second one in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/survey-results/index/|title=2010 Survey Results|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002144108/http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/survey-results/index/|url-status=dead}} The third nationwide survey was conducted in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/publicationFiles/2015-Survey-Results.pdf|title=A Compass Towards A Just and Harmonious Society: 2015 GNH Survey Report}} The GNH survey covers all twenty districts (Dzonkhag) and results are reported for varying demographic factors such as gender, age, abode, and occupation. The first GNH surveys consisted of long questionnaires that polled the citizens about living conditions and religious behavior, including questions about the times a person prayed in a day and other karma indicators. It took several hours to complete one questionnaire. Later rounds of the GNH Index were shortened, but the survey retained the religious behavioral indicators.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Short-GNH-Index-edited.pdf|title=Short Guide to GNH Index}}

The Bhutan GNH Index was developed by the Centre for Bhutan Studies with the help of Oxford University researchers to help measure the progress of Bhutanese society. The Index's function was based on the Alkire & Foster method of 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://ophi.org.uk/policy/national-policy/gross-national-happiness-index/|title=Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index|website=Oxford Poverty and Human Development Index|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424163506/https://ophi.org.uk/policy/national-policy/gross-national-happiness-index/|url-status=dead}} After the creation of the GNH Index, the government used the metric to measure national progress and inform policy.{{Cite journal|last=Adler|first=Alejandro|date=2009 |title=Gross National Happiness in Bhutan: A Living Example of an Alternative Approach to Progress|url= https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1003&context=sire|journal=Social Impact Research Experience|volume=1|pages=1–137}}{{Cite journal |last=Musikanski|first=Laura|date=2014|title=Happiness in Public Policy|url=http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jsc/vol6/iss1/5/|journal=Walden University Journal of Social Change|volume=6|pages=55–85}}

The Bhutan GNH Index is considered by progressive scholars to measure societal progress similarly to other models such as the OECD Better Life Index of 2011, and SPI Social Progress Index of 2013. One feature distinguishing Bhutan's GNH Index from the other models is that the other models are designed for secular governments and do not include religious behavior measurement components.

The data is used to compare happiness among different groups of citizens, and changes over time.{{cite book|url=http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/category/survey-report/|title=A Compass Towards a Just and Harmoneous Society: 2015 GNH Survey Report|date=2016|publisher=Centre for Bhutan Studies & GNH Research|isbn=978-99936-14-86-9|location=Thimphu, Bhutan|access-date=2 April 2017|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726224319/http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/category/survey-report/|url-status=dead}}

According to the World Happiness Report 2019, Bhutan is 95th out of 156 countries.[http://timharford.com/2019/03/why-happiness-is-easy-to-venerate-hard-to-generate/ Why happiness is easy to venerate, hard to generate], Tim Harford, Financial Times, 1 March 2019.

The holistic consideration of multiple factors through the GNH approach has been cited as impacting Bhutan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://www.devex.com/news/q-a-is-gross-national-happiness-the-key-to-bhutan-escaping-the-pandemic-97743 |title=Q&A: Is 'gross national happiness' the key to Bhutan escaping the pandemic? |last=Politzer |first=Malia |work=Devex |date=22 July 2020 |access-date=26 July 2020}}

In Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a shortened version of Bhutan's GNH survey was used by the local government, local foundations and governmental agencies under the leadership of Martha and Michael Pennock to assess the population of Victoria.{{Cite web|url=https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/past-initiatives/happiness-index-partnership/|title=The Happiness Index Partnership|date=12 January 2017|website=Victoria Foundation }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2011-10-03/measuring-happiness-victoria-british-columbia|title=Measuring Happiness in Victoria, British Columbia|last=Chatterjee|first=Rhitu|date=3 October 2011 |website=pri.org}}

In the state of São Paulo, Brazil, Susan Andrews,{{Cite web|publisher = The Center for Media and Democracy|url= https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Susan_Andrews |title=Susan Andrews|date= 5 May 2012|website=SourceWatch}} through her organization Future Vision Ecological Park, used a version of Bhutan's GNH at a community level in some cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeNwH3ax-c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FPeNwH3ax-c| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=GNH ´s Pilot Project in Brazil|website=YouTube|date=31 May 2012 }}{{cbignore}}

In Seattle, Washington, United States, a version of the GNH Index was used by the Seattle City Council and Sustainable Seattle to assess the happiness and well-being of the Seattle Area population.{{Cite journal|last= Musikanski|first=Laura|date=January 2013|title=The Happiness Initiative: The Serious Business of Well-Being|url= https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/the-happiness-initiative-the-serious-business-of-well-being/ |journal= Solutions Journal|volume=4|pages=34–39}}{{Cite web|url=https://newdream.org/blog/2011-11-happiness-initiative|title=Does Your Town Need A Happiness Index?|last=Mastny|first=Lisa|date=17 November 2011|website=New Dream }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.citylab.com/design/2011/11/how-happy-seattle/565/|title=How Happy is Seattle?|last=Jaffe|first=Eric|date=25 November 2011|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}} Other cities and areas in North America, including Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Creston, British Columbia and the U.S. state of Vermont, also used a version of the GNH Index.{{Cite web|url=http://wikiprogress.org/data/organization/happiness-alliance|title=WikiProgress Knowledge Base - Happiness Alliance|website=WikiProgress.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314230041/http://wikiprogress.org/data/organization/happiness-alliance|archive-date=14 March 2019|url-status=dead}}

The state of Vermont's Governor declared April 13 (President Jefferson's birthday) "Pursuit of Happiness Day", and became the first state to pass legislation enabling development of alternative indicators and to assist in making policy. The University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies Vermont perform a periodic study of well-being in the state.{{Cite web|url=http://gnhusa.org/alternative-indicators/measuring-well-vermont-leads-way/|title = Measuring Well-being: Vermont Leads the Way|date = 22 November 2017}}

At the University of Oregon, United States, a behavioral model of GNH based on the use of positive and negative words in social network status updates was developed by Adam Kramer.{{cite book|last1=Kramer|first1=Adam|title=Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems |chapter=An unobtrusive behavioral model of "gross national happiness" |chapter-url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=1753326.1753369|series=Chi '10|year=2010|pages=287–290|doi=10.1145/1753326.1753369|isbn=9781605589299|s2cid=207178394|access-date=1 April 2017}}

In 2016, Thailand launched its own GNH center.{{cite web|url=http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5910120010021|title=Thailand GNH Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202044010/http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5910120010021|archive-date=2 February 2017|df=dmy-all}} The former king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was a close friend of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and conceived the similar philosophy of sufficiency economy.

In the Philippines, the concept of GNH has been lauded by various personalities, notably Philippine senator and UN Global Champion for Resilience Loren Legarda, and former environment minister Gina Lopez. Bills have been filed in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives in support of Gross National Happiness in the Philippines. Additionally, Executive Director of Bhutan's GNH Center, Dr. Saamdu Chetri, has been invited by high-level officials in the Philippines for a GNH Forum.{{cite web|url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/242511/242511/|title=How PH can have Gross National Happiness, too|first=Cathy|last=Cañares-Yamsuan|website=inquirer.net|date=31 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/03/gross-national-happiness-for-ph-fvr-still-needed-malacanang/|title=Gross National Happiness for PH; FVR still needed – Malacañang|website=mb.com.ph|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104152800/https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/03/gross-national-happiness-for-ph-fvr-still-needed-malacanang/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theguidon.com/1112/main/2016/10/bhutan-happiness-guru-speaks-gross-national-happiness/|title=Bhutan 'happiness guru' speaks on 'Gross National Happiness'|date=23 October 2016|website=theguidon.com}}

Many other cities and governments have undertaken efforts to measure happiness and well-being (also termed "Beyond GDP"{{Cite web|url=http://fabriquespinoza.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/D5-2_BRAINPOoL_Final_Report-2.pdf|title=BRAINPOoL Final Report: Beyond GDP – From Measurement to Politics and Policy|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072217/http://fabriquespinoza.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/D5-2_BRAINPOoL_Final_Report-2.pdf|url-status=dead}}) since the High Level Meeting in 2012, but have not used versions of Bhutan's GNH index. Among these include the national governments of the United Kingdom's Office of National Statistics{{Cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-09-23|title=Measuring National Well-being - Office for National Statistics|website=www.ons.gov.uk}} and the United Arab Emirates,{{Cite web|url=https://www.happy.ae/en|title=Happy UAE|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=25 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425045931/https://www.happy.ae/en|url-status=dead}} and cities including Somerville, Massachusetts, United States,{{Cite web|url=https://data.somervillema.gov/login|title=Need search for: Somerville Happiness Survey responses - 2011, 2013, 2015|website=data.somervillema.gov}} and Bristol, United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.centreforthrivingplaces.org/about-measurement-policy/happiness-pulse/|title=Happiness Pulse}} Also a number of companies which are implementing sustainability practices in business that have been inspired by GNH.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1108/SAJGBR-12-2014-0096|title = Gross National Happiness: Lessons for sustainability leadership|journal = South Asian Journal of Global Business Research|volume = 5|issue = 2|pages = 190–213|year = 2016|last1 = Tideman|first1 = Sander G.}}

GNH has been described by critics as a propaganda tool used by the Bhutanese government to distract from ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses it has committed.{{cite news|last1=Thapa|first1=Saurav Jung|title=Bhutan's Hoax: of Gross National Happiness|work=Wave Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713000732/http://wavemag.com.np/issue/article3775.html|date=July 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|url=http://wavemag.com.np/issue/article3775.html}}{{cite news|first1=Vishal|last1=Arora|title=Bhutan's Human Rights Record Defies 'Happiness' Claim|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/bhutans-human-rights-record-defies-happiness-claim/|date=25 April 2014|work=The Diplomat}}

The Bhutanese democratic government started from 2008. Before then, the government practiced massive ethnic cleansing of the non-Buddhist population of ethnic Nepalese of Hindu faith in the name of GNH cultural preservation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/enigma-bhutan/|title=The Enigma of Bhutan|last=Bird|first=Kai|date=March 7, 2012|website=The Nation|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102061258/https://www.thenation.com/article/enigma-bhutan/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2014/05/bhutan-forgotten-people-201452081049514496.html|title=Bhutan's Forgotten People|date=May 30, 2014|publisher=Al Jazeera}} The NGO Human Rights Watch documented the events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/asia/bhutan|title=Bhutan|website=Human Rights Watch}} According to Human Rights Watch, "Over 100,000 or 1/6 of the population of Bhutan of Nepalese origin and Hindu faith were expelled from the country because they would not integrate with Bhutan's Buddhist culture."{{cite web|url= https://www.hrw.org/news/2008/02/01/bhutans-ethnic-cleansing |title=Bhutan's ethnic cleansing|date=1 February 2008|website=Human Rights Watch|first = Bill|last = Frelick}} The Refugee Council of Australia stated that "it is extraordinary and shocking that a nation can get away with expelling one sixth of its people and somehow keep its international reputation largely intact. The Government of Bhutan should be known not for Gross National Happiness but for Gross National Hypocrisy."{{Cite web|url=https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/media-releases/|title=Refugee news: media releases - Refugee Council of Australia|website=www.refugeecouncil.org.au}}

Some researchers state that Bhutan's GNH philosophy "has evolved over the last decade through the contribution of western and local scholars to a version that is more democratic and open. Therefore, probably, the more accurate historical reference is to mention the coining of the GNH phrase as a key event, but not the Bhutan GNH philosophy, because the philosophy as understood by western scholars is different from the philosophy used by the King at the time."{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317151566|title=The History of Gross National Happiness|website=ResearchGate|first = Mónica |last=Correa|date = May 2017|doi =10.13140/RG.2.2.18737.38243 }} Other viewpoints are that GNH is a process of development and learning, rather than an objective norm or absolute end point. Bhutan aspires to enhance the happiness of its people and GNH serves as a measurement tool for realizing that aspiration.Sander G. Tideman (2016), Gross National Happiness: Lessons for Sustainability Leadership South Asian Journal of Global Business Research, Vol. 5 Iss 2 pp. 190 – 213

Other criticism focuses on the standard of living in Bhutan. In an article written in 2004 in the Economist magazine, "The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is not in fact an idyll in a fairy tale. It is home to perhaps 900,000 people most of whom live in grinding poverty."{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2004/12/16/the-pursuit-of-happiness|title=The pursuit of happiness|date=16 December 2004|newspaper=The Economist}} However, in December 2023 Bhutan graduated from the UN's Least Developed Country List to Developing Country{{Cite web |title=Bhutan graduation status {{!}} LDC Portal - International Support Measures for Least Developed Countries |url=https://www.un.org/ldcportal/content/bhutan-graduation-status |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.un.org}} as it has made significant improvements over the last few decades, in social and economic progress, including reduction in poverty levels, and improved education standards and life expectancy.{{Cite web |title=Bhutan - Graduating from the LDC category |url=https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/bhutanssldc_e.htm |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.wto.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=UNCTAD |first=The Weekly Tradecast |date=4 April 2024 |title=89. Moving up: Bhutan graduates to UN's developing country status but challenges remain for other LDCs |url=https://unctad.org/podcast/moving-bhutan-graduates-uns-developing-country-status-challenges-remain-other-ldcs |access-date=22 November 2024}} Other criticism of GNH cites "increasing levels of political corruption, the rapid spread of diseases, and other woes; such as AIDS and tuberculosis, gang violence, abuses against women and ethnic minorities, shortages in food/medicine, and economic woes."{{cite web|url=https://www.gsdmagazine.org/the-false-promises-of-bhutans-gross-national-happiness/|title=Gross National Happiness of Bhutan and its False Promises|first=Global South Development|last=Magazine|date=21 July 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://2008.bhutan-360.com/gross-national-happiness-happy-in-bhutan/|title=Gross National Happiness – Happy in Bhutan?|date=December 1, 2008|website=Bhutan, 2008 and Beyond|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022161504/http://2008.bhutan-360.com/gross-national-happiness-happy-in-bhutan/|url-status=dead}}

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Development Challenges in Bhutan
• Small Is Beautiful
• Broad measures of economic progress
• Economics
• Happiness economics
• Happy Planet Index
• Human Development Index
• Humanistic economics
• Life satisfaction
• Minister of State for Happiness
• Utilitarianism
• World Values Survey

{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin|30em}}

• Adler Braun, Alejandro. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131425/http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/OtherArticles/GNHPaperbyAlejandro.pdf Gross National Happiness in Bhutan: A Living Example of an Alternative Approach to Progress], 24 September 2009
• Confucious. Analects 13:16. [http://ctext.org/analects/zi-lu/ The Analects : Zi Lu - Chinese Text Project]
• Diener, Ed and Robert-Biswas Diener. Happiness – Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2008. 290 pages. {{ISBN|978-1-4051-4661-6}}.
• Eric Zencey, "GDP RIP," New York Times, 9 August 2009 [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/opinion/10zencey.html Opinion | G.D.P. R.I.P.]
• Eric Ezechieli, "Beyond Sustainable Development: Education for Gross National Happiness in Bhutan" https://web.archive.org/web/20060906230028/http://suse-ice.stanford.edu/monographs/Ezechieli.pdf, Stanford University, 2003
• {{cite journal | last1 = Kammann | first1 = R | year = 1984 | title = The Analysis and Measurement of Happiness as a Sense of Well-Being | journal = Social Indicators Research | volume = 15 | issue = 2| pages = 91–115 | doi=10.1007/bf00426282| s2cid = 189879996 }}
• Layard, Richard (2005), Happiness: Lessons from a New Science, Penguin Press, {{ISBN|0-14-303701-3}}
• {{cite book|author1=Niestroy, Ingeborg |author2=García Schmidt, Armando |author3=Esche, Andreas |title="Bhutan: Paradigms Matter", in: Bertelsmann Stiftung (ed.): Winning Strategies for a Sustainable Future. Reinhard Mohn Prize 2013. |publisher=Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh |year=2013 |isbn=978-3-86793-491-6 |pages=55–80 |url=https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/our-projects/reinhard-mohn-prize/project-news/reinhard-mohn-prize-2013}}
• Powdyel, T.S. "Gross National Happiness, A Tribute," Gross National Happiness, Kinga, Sonam, et al. (eds) (1999), Thimphu: The Center for Bhutan Studies
• Priesner, Stefan (2004), Indigeneity and Universality in Social Science: A South Asian Response, SAGE Publications, {{ISBN|0-7619-3215-1}}
• Schroeder, Kent (2018), Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan, Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, {{ISBN|978-3-319-65387-7}}
• Thinley, L. (October 1998). Values and Development: "Gross National Happiness." Speech presented at the Millennium Meeting for Asia and the Pacific, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Tideman, Sander G. (2016), Gross National Happiness: Lessons for Sustainability Leadership, [https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/SAJGBR-12-2014-0096 South Asian Journal of Global Business Research, Vol. 5 Iss 2 pp. 190 – 213]

{{Refend}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• International Institute of Management – US based GHN research, [http://www.iim-edu.org/grossnationalhappiness/ GNH policy white paper]
• Bhutan 2008 [https://web.archive.org/web/20081121215814/http://2008.bhutan-360.com/2007/11/25/gross-national-happiness/ Paeans to the King]
• [http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/Sachs%20Writing/2012/World%20Happiness%20Report.pdf World Happiness Report]
• Nadia Mustafa, [https://web.archive.org/web/20050406045104/http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1016266,00.html?promoid=rss_top "What About Gross National Happiness?"], Time, 10 January 2005
• Rajni Bakshi, [http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/21083/ "Gross National Happiness"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725160344/http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/21083/ |date=25 July 2008 }}, Resurgence, 25 January 2005
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jf9xrnUjpI Bhutan, Gross National Happiness and Sustainable Development – YouTube] (12:31)
• [http://www.gnhusa.org Gross National Happiness USA] United States-based non-profit using GNH framing to spark dialogue and inform public policy.

{{Global economic classifications}}

{{Bhutanese society}}

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