HAPPINESS : Transforming the Development Landscape
HAPPINESS : Transforming the Development Landscape
Thirty years ago, the Fourth King of Bhutan famously proclaimed that ―Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product, thereby setting Bhutan on a holistic development path. Following this historic declaration, Bhutan developed a Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index and screening tool to evaluate all new policies, proclaiming that:
―Gross National Happiness measures the quality of a country in more holistic way [than GNP] and believes that the beneficial development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
In July 2011, 68 nations joined Bhutan in co-sponsoring its UN General Assembly resolution on ―Happiness: Towards a Holistic Approach to Development.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction |
Chapter 2: Definitions of Terms |
Chapter 3: Desirability of Sustainable Happiness as a Guide for Public Policy |
Chapter 4: Subjective Wellbeing Measures to Inform Public Policies |
Chapter 5: Happiness and Public Policies: Fundamental Issues |
Chapter 6: A Scientific Review of the Remarkable Benefits of Happiness for Successful and Healthy Living |
Chapter 7: Psychological Wellbeing |
Chapter 8: Altruism and Happiness |
Chapter 9: Health, Happiness and Wellbeing: Implications for Public Policy |
Chapter 10: Education |
Chapter 11: Education and Student Wellbeing |
Chapter 12: Culture, Development and Happiness |
Chapter 13: Time Use and Balance |
Chapter 14: Good Governance |
Chapter 15: Community Vitality |
Chapter 16: The Power of GDP and its Limitations |
Chapter 17: Ecological Diversity and Resilience |
Chapter 18: Achieving Lasting Behavior Change |
Chapter 19: Conclusions and Future Directions |