GNH

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a development philosophy and governance framework originated in Bhutan that defines the main objective of public policy as the promotion of the collective happiness and well-being of the population rather than the accumulation of material wealth alone. Introduced in the 1970s by Bhutan's fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, GNH seeks to balance economic development with cultural preservation, environmental protection, and good governance. It emphasizes the idea that sustainable progress should be measured by outcomes across multiple dimensions of well-being rather than by Gross Domestic Product.

GNH rests on four guiding pillars: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development; preservation and promotion of cultural values; conservation of the natural environment; and establishment of good governance. These pillars support a framework of nine domains that together cover psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, living standards, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and governance. The measurement relies on a national program of surveys and indicators, led by Bhutan's Center for Bhutan Studies and later the GNH Commission and government bodies, to produce a composite index used in policy evaluation and budgeting.

Since its inception, GNH has attracted international attention and has influenced discussions on alternative development metrics. The United Nations has acknowledged and supported happiness and well-being as development goals, and several organizations have drawn on GNH concepts in policy design and indicators. Critics caution that GNH's applicability to other contexts may be limited by cultural specificity, subjectivity in wellbeing measures, and potential trade-offs with conventional economic growth. Proponents argue that it offers a broad, people-centered approach to development and governance.