Himalyan Happiness
The tiny state of Bhutan, wedged between India and China up in the Himalayas, is the only country in the world that rates its progress based on Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than Gross National Product (GNP). Despite the UK's best efforts Bhutan is unique and its experiment is unlikely to catch on across the developed world, but there are more than a few people who think they may have a point.
Firstly there’s the question of what GNP is actually measuring and whether it’s the sort of thing we should be aiming to increase year on year. Secondly there’s the even more fundamental question: what’s the purpose of life? If the answer to that isn’t money then economists need to think very carefully before they start remodelling the world again.
The tiny state of Bhutan, wedged between India and China up in the Himalayas, is the only country in the world that rates its progress based on Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than Gross National Product (GNP). Despite the UK's best efforts Bhutan is unique and its experiment is unlikely to catch on across the developed world, but there are more than a few people who think they may have a point.
Firstly there’s the question of what GNP is actually measuring and whether it’s the sort of thing we should be aiming to increase year on year. Secondly there’s the even more fundamental question: what’s the purpose of life? If the answer to that isn’t money then economists need to think very carefully before they start remodelling the world again.
