Gross National Happiness Index Research Articles

Objective and Subjective Approaches in Mapping Happiness using SDG data and Gross National Happiness Index (GNHI)

Objective and Subjective Approaches in Mapping Happiness using SDG data and Gross National Happiness Index (GNHI)

Modifying the Abridged Version of the Gross National Happiness Index Survey to Suit the Singapore Hospitality Industry

Bhutan as a tourist destination intrigues many in the most part due to its very unique way of measuring its nation’s success. While most countries in the world monitor their respective gross domestic products (GDPs) as the indicator of economic standing, for five decades the Bhutanese government and its people have maintained a different mindset. And they are firm and very proud of it. The Gross National Happiness (GNH) index was first conceptualised in Bhutan in the 70’s. It is a measure of overall wellbeing and perceived by its advocates as the better success indicator of a country. Thanks to the inspiration of His Majesty the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who addressed the United Nations in 1971, Bhutan ever since remained steadfast in the concept of GNH (Tourism Council of Bhutan, n.d.) [1]. This research is the first of its kind in Singapore. It is an attempt to apply the GNH index not to a country but to an industry, the hospitality industry in Singapore. It is a common observance in hotels and restaurants in many countries that staff experience stress and pressure. O’Neill and Davis (2011) [2] argued that employee stress is a major issue in the hospitality industry and claimed that it is costly to both employees and employers. As such, many find working in the hospitality field to be far from a walk in the park, so to speak. Veenhoven (2004) [3] pointed out “happiness” as interchangeable to “quality of life”. It is worthwhile therefore to explore the effects of this highly challenging environment to the happiness and wellbeing of those who work there. Would this have impact on employee turnover and labour participation in this industry? This is a good question to answer in future studies. Thus, investigating the current condition of the industry particularly in a fast-paced work milieu like Singapore could trace the possible root causes of the manpower crunch being experienced at the time of this writing. The researcher examined the abridged version of the GNH (The Gross National Happiness Abridged Survey, 2011) [4]. The objectives pursued in this investigation were: assess the suitability of the abridged GNH version in Singapore’s hospitality industry, examine the possible amendments or changes that need to be done on the abridged GNH version to suit Singapore’s hospitality sector, justify the changes on the abridged GNH version to suit Singapore’s hospitality industry, and create the adapted version of the abridged GNH index suitable to Singapore’s hospitality industry. As hypothesized, there are a significant number of changes that were needed to be done in the original abridged GNH version. Amendments were done that resulted in an adapted and modified version of the original abridged form. This modified abridged GNH version has been justified in this paper to be suitable for further studies to measure the happiness of workers in Singapore’s hospitality industry (coined here as the GAS-SHI for Gross National Happiness Abridged Survey for the Singapore Hospitality Industry). The GAS-SHI could be used by policy makers in hospitality organisations and the Singapore government to measure and possibly improve hospitality worker’s wellbeing.

National progress, sustainability and higher goals: the case of Bhutan\u2019s Gross National Happiness

BackgroundThe context of this study is the predominant global paradigm for measuring national progress, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has resulted in an over-emphasis on production and consumption that in turn, is exhausting the planet’s capacity to sustain life. This study examines the potential for a new paradigm of development that can propel human society in a more meaningful, sustainable direction.ResultsCritiques of the GDP are overviewed, but the key critique is that if sustainability, human survival, is our key goal, then GDP, aiming at boundless material wealth, is driving us in the wrong direction. To drive a new sustainable, more meaningful way of life, we need an overarching paradigm with integrated, localized indicators that are internationally accepted as the measures of each nation’s progress. Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index exemplifies this. Based on the lived experience of a key GNH instigator, its nine domains are explained: Living standard, Health, Education, Ecological diversity and resilience, Cultural diversity and resilience, Community vitality, Time use, Psychological wellbeing, and Good governance. These have informed and been informed by the Sustainable Development Goals. It is outlined how the GNH Index guides development, allocates resources according to the targets set, measures people’s happiness, and measures progress over time and geography.ConclusionThe economic paradigm underlying the GDP - that the purpose of life is to become rich - is enabling our unsustainability. To enable future sustainability, we need to reconceptualize our concept of national progress. Moreover, since sustainability is effectively a euphemism for survival, then surely, as intelligent, sensitive beings, shouldn’t we be pursuing a higher, shared goal? For the Bhutanese, this is ‘happiness’ - a paradigm that encompasses the pursuit of meaningful societal progress by balancing the physical with mental, the material with spiritual, within a safe and stable environment, with the purpose of realizing happiness. Though the Bhutanese do not claim to have reached a state of national happiness, Bhutan has maintained happiness as its overriding goal, with the tool’s philosophy, authority and accountability driving this in everyday life.

Buddhist Approach to Happiness As a Proper Measure of Social Development

The idea of economic progress became commonly discussed with the advent of the work of Adam Smith and thereafter even while economists were starting to measure national income, the sustainability of growth was still questioned. A lot of recent debate on the search for proper indicators for “development” goes beyond limitations of GDP as a sole measure for societal progress. In this context, measuring and understanding of subjective social development has become one of the major challenges in terms of formulating appropriate indices. It is seen that, happiness being promoted as an unconventional indicator of measuring sustainability of both man and environment in the present development discourse through several attempts such as World Happiness Summit, World Happiness Report, Gross National Happiness Index (GNHI) and Better Life Index (BLI) etc. However, those attempts still have failed to explain many of the factors that impact most on people’s material, social and spiritual lives. In order to fill this vacuum, it is assumed that Buddhist teachings on happiness can be effectively applied with the concept of compassion (Metta). Based on this assumption, the present study aims to identify the Buddhist perspective on happiness in relation to the sustainable development and to find out its applicability in formulating indicators for judging the real happiness. Methodology of the research has set up focusing the literature survey and content interpretation based on the primary and secondary sources. Findings of the paper highlights three important Buddhist approaches for using happiness as a social development indicator; interdependency, favourable relationship and total satisfaction. It is revealed that the social development is motivated by Buddhism with emphasis on happiness where material, social and spiritual life overlap. It is recommended that four-fold happiness should be taken into consideration in measuring social development; physical, mental, social and spiritual.

Buddhist biopower? – Variegated governmentality in Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness agenda

This paper employs a “variegated governmentality” framework to analyse Bhutan’s well-known Gross National Happiness (GNH) agenda. GNH is both a philosophy and form of governance that the Royal Government uses to guide national policymaking. While previous research frames GNH in terms of Foucault’s early discussion of governmentality, it does so by establishing monolithic characterizations of governance rationalities and positioning them against one another. By contrast, we suggest that GNH can be more productively understood in terms of Foucault’s more recently translated work as embodying multiple governance rationalities situated alongside each other and locally understood as complementary. From this perspective, recent promotion of neoliberalism within the country can be understood not as an intrusion of “western rationality” upon a distinct GNH but rather as a component of the complex bricolage that GNH has become. We suggest that this produces an indigenous form of biopower, which we term ‘Buddhist Biopower’, appealing to a combination of Bhutanese tradition and religious belief to legitimize the state’s claim to govern in the interest of the population. A policy review of Bhutan’s GNH Index and Eleventh Five Year Plan is conducted to illustrate this analysis. In this way, the paper brings together research concerning multiple governmentalities and variegated neoliberalization to illuminate the complex ways that biopower can be exercised in the contemporary world.

Sustainable development and spirituality: a critical analysis of GNH index

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between sustainable development (SD) and spirituality. Bhutan, a country believing deeply in Buddhist spiritual values has created a model of Gross National Happiness (GNH) where it is believed that the holistic evolution of human being can take place with a balance of material as well as non-material aspects of spiritual, cultural, societal and environmental. The paper critically analyzes GNH to establish the role of spirituality in SD. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyses the GNH concept using literature review. Further, personal meetings with authorities in Bhutan and interaction with citizens of Bhutan used to gather primary data. A critical approach has been applied to understand the practical implication of the concept. Findings Good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation formed the four basic pillars of the GNH index, further elaborated into 9 domains and 33 clustered indicators. The concept has been commendable in giving new direction to the understanding of SD. Nevertheless, certain discrepancies create ambiguity and limitations around the validity of adoption of the concept in other countries. Research limitations/implications A balanced and holistic, yet practical model of SD is necessitated. Bhutan has been a pioneer to suggest the different dimensions that can be acted upon to produce a more honest and sustainable path of being in concord with nature, community and other-related surroundings. Practical implications The paper provides insights to researchers and practitioners in understanding the basic essentials required for the SD agenda. The paper derives the learnings from the GNH model which can help in understanding the areas where the western three-pillar model of development needs more refinement. At the same time, the paper also helps in creating the insights for Bhutanese practitioners and policymakers about the areas where the GNH model still needs to be worked upon to improve its efficacy. Originality/value The paper proposes that SD can only be achieved through spirituality.

A Framework of Trade Policy for Bhutan Compatible with the Gross National Happiness

Bhutan highly values psychological aspects of social welfare and well-being by setting requirements for satisfying the threshold of the gross national happiness (GNH) index in making national policy decisions. The GNH index, however, includes factors that are seemingly unfavorable to an active trade policy. One of the most urgent tasks facing Bhutan is to improve general living standards, especially the creation of decent jobs for the young. The country needs to benchmark successful development strategies in other countries, and to recognize that no country can develop an economy without an open trade policy. This paper discusses the relationship between the GNH and trade policy, and tries to analyze trade policy issues of Bhutan: inclusive growth, trade facilitation, incidence of tariffs, and World Trade Organization accession. It explores trade and industry policy that is compatible with the GNH guidelines. It also points out that the structure of the Bhutanese government is less oriented to trade policy than its neighbors, and suggests a new organization for promoting a more active trade policy. It concludes by underlining the importance of an active trade policy for Bhutan.

Figuring the Happiness of Poor Communities in Malang City: Measuring the Outcome of Slum and Squatter Areas

Citizen happiness is one of the attributes to measure the quality of life. It is known that the government city development priority, one of them is offering the citizens all the required services and developing sustainable city program then achieve happiness standard. If government cannot afford it for the people, it can be counted as failures for them. The main goal of this research is to figure out the happiness condition in Malang City, which was focused on happiness of poor communities. Happiness conditions were depicted on index that carried from Gross National Happiness Index (GNHI) method. There are 6 variables that were considered based on the necessities of life aspects which were health, education, good governance, community vitality, environment, and living standard. From the results, it can be described that the highest value of happiness index of poor communities in Malang City is more than 0.77. Those values were figured from city center areas which include Klojen, Gadingkasri, Kasin, Ketawanggede, Kota Lama, and Sawojajar sub-district. Then the lowest value of happiness index is less than 0.55, covered fringe areas.

Time and well¬being

This paper examines the impact of temporal experience—time use, conceptions of time and temporal norms—on happiness and well-being and suggests public policies to enhance these experiences. First, it reviews literature concerning the interrelationships of time, money and happiness. Second, it reviews data and issues concerning the use of work and non-work hours around the world. Third, it describes a broader range of temporal issues to be considered in policymaking decisions, e.g. clock versus event time-keeping, monochronic versus polychronic approaches, the definition of wasted time, the pace of life, and temporal orientation. Finally, suggestions are of ered for the formulation of time-use policies intended to increase individual and collective happiness. It is a virtual truism that the way we use our time is the way we live our lives. Our time is our most valuable possession. Much of this time, however, is controlled by others, ranging from our employers to our closest family members. It is also clear that there are profound dif erences-- individual, socio-economic, cultural and national--in the degree to which people hold control over their own time (e.g., LEVINE, 1997; LEE, et al., 2007). It may be argued that public policies are needed to protect the “temporal rights” of individuals, particularly those who are most vulnerable to exploitation. This paper was sparked by an ambitious large-scale project in which I had the opportunity to participate. The project was initiated in the Spring of 2012 following a United Nations resolution, adopted unanimously by the General Assembly, placing “happiness” on the global agenda. The nation of Bhutan was asked to convene an interdisciplinary group of international “experts” to craft recommendations for policies to raise worldwide happiness; more specifically, to develop a “new paradigm for world development.” Bhutan, a small, landlocked, relatively poor Himalayan nation, was chosen for this task because of its pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH) project. “Progress,” the GNH designers declared, “should be viewed not only through the lens of economics but also from spiritual, social, cultural and ecological perspectives.” Happiness and development, in other words, depend on more than growth and the accumulation of money. England, Canada and other countries and country-level organizations have subsequently followed Bhutan’s lead and established GNH measures of their own (LEVINE, 2013). One of the nine core domains of Bhutan’s GNH index is “time use,” which comprised my section of the report. The present paper draws heavily on that report and the insights that research of ered me. I will address four major sets of issues: I. The inter-relationships of time, money and happiness. Most importantly, what is the relevance of time use to well-being and happiness? II. Time Use: Work hour issues and policies. III. Other temporal factors that need to be considered when formulating policies to increase happiness. IV. Suggestions for policymaking: The call for a “Temporal Bill of Rights.”

Measuring Happiness in Academic Environment: A Case Study of the School of Engineering at Taylor's University (Malaysia)

Research on measuring the happiness and general wellbeing of both staff and students at Higher Learning Education Providers (HLEP) has become an important component for the management team at the School, Faculty and University when introducing new plans and future policies related to cultivating a positive teaching and learning environment. Therefore, an attempt has been undertaken to measure the general happiness at the School of Engineering (SoE) at Taylor's University through the development of Gross National Happiness Index (GIHI) which took into account nine key areas that fulfilled various criteria. Inspired by the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH) which was developed by the Centre for Bhutan Studies as an official national measure of happiness, an attempt was undertaken to conceptualize the idea from GNH and develop a happiness indicator for the SoE which gave birth to Gross Institutional Happiness Index (GIHI). This article details the methodology and stages undertaken towards the development and the subsequent implementation of GIHI within the SoE at Taylor's University Lakeside Campus (TULC) to compute the percentage of people who are happy and percentage of domains in which not-yet-happy people already enjoy sufficiency.