The National Happiness Index of Bhutan and its Enlightenment

The National Happiness Index of Bhutan and its Enlightenment

The Kingdom of Bhutan has garnered international attention for its unique approach to national policy and its focus on qualitative rather than quantitative measures. In particular, the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has been embraced by Bhutan as the main indicator of its success as a nation, and has served as an example of a new way of measuring social progress. This paper will explore the concept of GNH, the development of the National Happiness Index (NHI) in Bhutan, and how this approach to governance could be incorporated into public policy in other countries. The paper will then examine the potential for other countries to adopt a similar approach to governance. It will discuss some of the challenges that may need to be addressed for this to be successful, such as the need for reliable data, the difficulty of measuring intangible factors, and the need for a shift in public attitudes and beliefs. Finally, the paper will present some of the potential benefits of adopting a GNH-based approach, such as increased citizen engagement and satisfaction, improved economic and social stability, and a greater focus on sustainability. Overall, this paper will explore the concept of GNH and the development of the National Happiness Index in Bhutan, as well as the potential for other countries to adopt a similar approach.