It seems like most countries realized the value of happiness.In the International Conference on Happiness and Public Policy staged in Bangkok, participants of the conference were discussing about the Gross National Happiness (GNH) and its positive effects to every country: global development, economic prosperity and productivity.

“It is intimately linked with the quality of life and the society in which we live. Concentrating on gross domestic product alone does not necessarily lead to well-being.” Thai Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said.

The 300 or more participants of the said conference compared their country’s life expectancies, standards of living, education levels and will tackle to discover the necessary measured to attain happiness.

The GNS conference was first held in Bhutan in 2004 on which King Jigme Singye Wangchuck first had an idea of the Gross National Happiness. They already implemented it in their country and so far has got a favorable response. Former prime minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Jigme Thinley said:

“The Bhutanese experience is being discussed and perhaps it has come to provide inspiration to others,”

No other country does the government observe happiness the basis of government policy; but only in this Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between India and Tibet measures its progress not in Gross Domestic Product but in Gross National Happiness (GNH).

A brainchild of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972, GNH is used as a measurement of sustainable economic development, environmental conservation, promotion of cultural values and good government.

“GNH is not about happiness,” said Kinley Dorji, managing director of Kuensel, Bhutan’s national newspaper.

“As Buddhists, we believe happiness is an individual pursuit, gained from looking inside rather than outside. GNH is a mandate of the state to create an environment where citizens can pursue happiness.”

“…growth should reflect what people want,” stated Karma Tshiteem, head of the GHN Commission, “Environment, culture and tradition are the aspects that are important to buddhist people,”

So far, the GNH yielded good results. Bhutan is now the highest per capita income country in South Asia. And as for the people, they feel that their country is on the right track. This is the case for a Bhutanese entrepreneur Palden Tshering who returned home after living for a long time in New York; “We couldn’t live like we can in Bhutan anywhere else in the world.”

Image courtesy of babasteve