Happiness as a government indicator

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Royal wedding in Bhutan. The wedding of the King of Bhutan Jigme Wangchuk Khesar Namguel and the most beautiful girl in the country, Jetsun Pema, took place in the ancient Buddhist castle of Bhutan Dzong in the city of Punakha.

The Bhutanese government is guided by the Gross National Happiness Index. In 2008, a state-run Gross National Happiness Commission was created, headed by the country's prime minister.

"Gross National Happiness". This ideology was conceived by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who, having received a modern education in India and Great Britain, realized that economic success in itself does not necessarily make society content and happy. Accordingly, shortly after his coronation in 1974, the young king began to promote the idea of developing new principles for governing the country. Gradually, these ideas were formulated, and in 1998 the ANS indicator was adopted. GNH stands for Gross National Happiness and is defined by four goals: enhancing economic growth and development, preserving and developing cultural heritage, promoting environmental sustainability and good governance.

The National Happiness Index is seen as a key element in building an economy in the Kingdom of Bhutan that is consistent with Buddhist spiritual values.

On July 19, 2011, 68 states joined the Kingdom of Bhutan, initiating the resolution "Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development", adopted by consensus of the UN General Assembly. As a follow-up to the resolution, the Bhutanese government hosted a high-level meeting on "Happiness and Well Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm" on April 2, 2012 at the UN headquarters in New York … At the meeting, the next steps were proposed to implement the vision of a new economic paradigm based on well-being and social and environmental responsibility, which in fact unites the achievement of economic, social and environmental goals.

The most notable difference is that Bhutan carefully guards its age-old cultural traditions. Sometimes, before curiosities, for example, one of the laws prescribes Bhutanese to wear national clothes. Until the end of the 20th century, television was banned in the country, in 1999 Bhutan became the last country on the planet to start broadcasting - when the only state-owned television channel went into operation.

There is virtually no corruption in Bhutan. Bhutan is ranked 32nd in the world in terms of corruption in Transparency International's 2006 ranking, behind only Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and the UAE in Asia. Outlaw lawyers. According to the king's decree: "In the courtroom, do not allow people who can make black white and white black." King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk is the youngest monarch in the world, (born 1980) is very popular at home and abroad.

The import of chemical fertilizers is prohibited here, and everything that grows on this land is in itself environmentally friendly. Another interesting feature of this state can be considered the fact that forests in Bhutan are not cut down, but, on the contrary, are planted. It is not enough to say that this is a country of Buddhism, it is a country of purity and enlightenment. The country is still very little studied, and huge territories in the south and in the central part have not been explored at all by people and are huge reserves with amazing flora and fauna. All this Bhutan has kept for very simple reasons - hunting is prohibited and there is practically no deforestation. The kingdom is fully self-sufficient in food and clothing. At the same time, almost the entire population wears national clothes - kho.

Bhutan is still considered to be a third world country with much of its subsistence agriculture. In general, the land is fertile and the population is small. In addition, the current generation receives education free of charge, and all citizens have access to free medical care. Trade in tobacco products is prohibited, smoking in public places is subject to a EUR 175 fine. The kingdom's main sources of income are tourism, hydropower and agriculture.

Tantric Buddhism is proclaimed the official religion, "spiritual heritage". In Bhutan, everything is sacred - mountains and rivers, animals and fish. Mountaineering is prohibited, so as not to disturb the sacred sleep of the mountains.