By Swati Dalmia
The number of Americans who said, ‘yes, I am happy with my life’ peaked in the 1980s, but ever since then has fallen slowly but steadily. During this time, our levels of world GDP per capita have increased dramatically and according to the principle of conventional microeconomics, our experience of higher utility means that we should all be happier – yes? Bhutan, a small country (about the size of Maryland) sandwiched between India and China, has adopted an innovative policy that hopes to redefine the role that happiness plays in the economy. Landlocked in the Himalayas, Bhutan has a population of less than 800,000. Yet, this small country has radically transformed its national policy priorities through changes in their environmental policy and adoption of the innovative Gross National Happiness (GNH) index.
Currently, western countries address environmental policy as a way to prevent the tragedy of the commons and market failure. The underlying assumption here is that environmental policies are only necessary as far as being a means of achieving economic prosperity. The stronger assumption is that economic growth and environmental protection are mutually exclusive. However, Bhutan dispels this myth by demonstrating that not only can environmental protection and economic growth be achieved in tandem, but they are also a means to an end - the mere byproduct of striving for happiness.
In 2008, Bhutan issued Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a philosophy to shape policy creation. This comprehensive index covers nine domains: living standards, education, health, environment, community vitality, time use, psychological well being, good governance, cultural resilience, and ecological diversity and resilience. Prospective policies are measured against these standards to evaluate their potential benefit to society and impact on national happiness. To enhance GNH, the Bhutanese government has invested in sustainable transport, subsidized electric cars, transitioned into a paperless administration and funded renewable energy schemes. Core to the GNH philosophy, these measures work together to increase the nine domains contributing to higher aggregate happiness levels. Fundamentally, Bhutan seeks to create “development with values” that aims to improve the nation’s environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing. (TED)
Measures of GNH have suggested that Bhutan’s subjective happiness has increased over the last decade, accompanying and even tracking improvements in traditional economic indicators. (Wood) World Bank data demonstrates that since 2008 Bhutan has increased GDP and recorded higher household income, whilst maintaining a stable unemployment rate averaging 2.5%. (Bhutan)
Driven by GNH measures, Bhutan announced at the 2009 Climate Change Conference its commitment to remain carbon neutral. Annually, Bhutan caps its carbon production at 2.2 million tonnes whilst acting as a net carbon sink for more than 4 million tonnes. National parks and green spaces are protected, with the constitution ensuring forests comprise a minimum of 60% of Bhutan’s land cover. Currently, more than 72% of Bhutan is covered in forest, with these trees absorbing more than 4 million tonnes of carbon annually meaning that Bhutan is not only carbon neutral, but the only carbon negative country in the world. (Climate Council)
Whilst achieving carbon negative (or even neutral) status is heavily dependent on a number of factors, much can be learned from Bhutan and the GNH to create better environmental policy. In view of this, by ensuring the wellbeing of future generations who will inherit more than just the economy, an approach that increases happiness can contribute to a greater environmental, social and economic legacy.
Works Cited
“Bhutan.” Data, data.worldbank.org/country/bhutan.Climate Council. “Bhutan is the world’s only climate negative country so how did they do it?”, 2017, https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/2017/04/02/bhutan -is-the-world-s-only-carbon-negative-country-so- how-did-they-do-it.
TED. “This Country Isn't Just Carbon Neutral - It's Carbon Negative | Tshering Tobgay.” YouTube, YouTube, 1 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lc_dlVrg5M.
Wood, Patrick. “What Happens When a Country Strives for Happiness - at Any Cost?” ABC News, 23 June 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-23/bhutan-strives-for-happiness -but-at-what-cost/8633424.
I wonder what sparked Bhutan to create their GNH index and goals. I also wonder how it came about to the governments attention. Another thing that I found interesting is how small their population is. That has to be a factor in how well they have been able to execute this goal so far. Just imagine a larger country trying to take on this goal!
ReplyDeleteMy initial thought was that happiness would be hard to measure based on the different standards that people hold. True, the nine domains cover most of the factors that affect a person’s happiness. However, I think it would be near impossible to measure happiness accurately because of the separate expectations and realities that people face. Despite this though, I think that Bhutan’s government has the right idea to focus on environmental protection, economic growth, and happiness. In my opinion, economic prosperity sounds pointless if it doesn’t result in higher gross national happiness.
ReplyDeleteI think happiness is something every nation should strive to improve but it kind of philosophically bugs me in the long, long run. If we are striving for universal improvements in happiness, where do we end up a thousand years from now? Living in virtual reality where our every need is met and live our days in pure enjoyment while robots do all the work for us? I think that in the long run humanity needs to work for progress. Nothing in the future will come easy and if we rest on our laurels on our one small planet it will mean our inevitable destruction. I know this isn't necessarily why we don't strive for happiness but if tracking GDP means a faster path to the stars, GNH will always be of secondary priority.
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