A Short Guide to Gross National Happiness Index.

Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GHN) is a multi-dimensional measure and it is linked with a set of policy and programme screening tools so that it has practical applications

Abstract

Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GHN) is a multi-dimensional measure and it is linked with a set of policy and programme screening tools so that it has practical applications. The GNH index is built from data drawn from periodic surveys which are representative by district, gender, age, rural-urban residence, etc. Representative sampling allows its results to be decomposed at various sub-national levels, and such disaggregated information can be examined and understood more by organizations and citizens for their uses. In the GNH Index, unlike certain concepts of happiness in current western literature, happiness is itself multidimensional – not measured only by subjective well-being, and not focused narrowly on happiness that begins and ends with oneself and is concerned for and with oneself. The pursuit of happiness is collective, though it can be experienced deeply personally. Different people can be happy in spite of their disparate circumstances and the options for diversity must be wide.

Citation

Ura, K.; Alkire, S.; Zangmo, T.; Wangdi, K. A Short Guide to Gross National Happiness Index. (2012) 104 pp.

A Short Guide to Gross National Happiness Index.

Published 1 January 2012