GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS

~A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Submitted by-Rashmi Parmar (8601)Trisha Sinha Roy(8629)Sanchari Mohanta(8631)Raunak Shirali(8609)Karan Khot(8615)Swapnil Kulkarni(8625)

CONTENTS

Meaning of GNH GNH Indicators Case studies-Bhutan, Norway,

Switzerland and Denmark GNH in India Shortcomings of GDP and GNP Why GNH Critical Analysis of GNH Conclusion

What does happiness mean to you?

MEANING

Gross national happiness (GNH) attempts to measure the sum total not only of economic output, but also of net environmental impacts, the spiritual and cultural growth of citizens, mental and physical health and the strength of the corporate and political systems. 

GNH INDICATORSTime use

Living standards

Good governance

Psychological wellbeing

Community vitality

Culture

Health

Education

Ecology

GNH

.

1

2

3

4

56

7

Source-World Happiness Report

BHUTAN- a case study

FOUR PILLARS OF GNH

�Sustainable and

equitable socio-

economic developm

ent

�Conservation of the environm

ent

�Preservation and

promotion of culture

�Good governanc

e

Twenty Sources of Happiness For Bhutanese People

Source:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The government is spending about 5.7% of its total planned budget on health.

In 2004, Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco.

In a GNH indicator survey 25.5% of respondents reported their health as excellent, 64.1%reported it as good and 66.3% of men and 58.5% of women reported not having any mental or physical illness during the 30 days preceding the survey.

Source: Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare

Core demographic and health indicators in Bhutan

Indicators Years1984 1994 2000 2005 2008

Total fertility rate (births per woman)

_ 5.6 4.7 3.0 2.4

Population growth rate 2.6 3.1 2.5 1.3 1.3

Infant mortality rate/1000 live berths

102.8 70.7 60.5 56 49.3

Maternal mortality ratio/100,000 live berths

770 380 260 440 _

Life expectancy in years _ 49 66 65 66

Source: Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare

KEY DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

Per capita income

Life expectancy

Infant and

maternal mortality

rates

Health coverage

School enroll--ment

Literacy rates

Environ-mental

conserva

tism

Denmark

Happiest country on planet Ranks frist in Gross national happiness list Ranks fourth in Human development index 1.8/10 inequality ratio Free universal healthcare Free universal education

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland has been named the world's 2nd happiest country in a survey of 158 nations - with the UK trailing behind in 23RD (Iceland, Norway and Finland completed the top five). WHY?

They're rich

They live longer

The chocolate.

But they aren't fat

They're smart.

They don't take sides.

They're multilingual

The working hours

The healthcare

Switzerland has produced 25 Nobel laureates out of a population of around eight million

It's very democratic

Zurich came second in Mercer's 2015 Quality of Living survey,

They're always on time

And four reasons it's not so great

Too many rules

The wealth gap

There's conscription

It's boring

NORWAY-a case study

What can we learn from this Scandinavian beauty?

What can we learn from this Scandinavian beauty?

World’s highest per capita GDP of $53,000 a year.

Second-highest level of satisfaction with their standards of living

95% say they are satisfied with the freedom to choose the direction of their lives;

74% say other people can be trusted.

FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE LAW OF JANTE INEQUALITY-A KEY PARAMETRE GENDER ROLES HAPPY NEW DADS FREE FUNERALS ALMOST FREE EDUCATION HAPPY NEW DADS BYE, BYE CARS GAY RIGHTS THEY’RE RICH YOUR SALARY IS NOT A SECRET

Aurora Borealis 

India GNH, GDP and HDI COMPARISON

India ranking comparison 0f GDP, HDI and GNH

GDP2014 •7th rank

2015 •9th rank

2016 •9th rank

HDI2014 •135th rank

2015 •130th rank

2016 •130th rank

India GNH Ranking

2014 •111th rank

2015 •117th rank

2016 •118th rank

WHY INDIA RANKS SO LOW ON GNH? 40% POPULATI ON SUFFERS FROM “MULTI DIMENTIONAL” POVERTY Inequality, a key parameter GENDER EQUALITY IS A WEAK SPOT

INDIA SUFFERS FROM NATURAL RESOURCE DEPLETION AT THE RATE OF 4.9%

OF GROSS NATIONAL INCOME WHICH MUST BE PLACED AGAINST ANNUAL GDP GROWTH IN THE LAST 3 YEARS OF 5.3%

INDIA DRAWS 33.9% OF ITS RENEWAL WATER RESOURCES EACH YEAR, COMPARED TO A MEDIUM CATEGORY AVERAGE OF 13.9% AND CHINA’S

FIGURE OF 19.5%

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT GROWTH ACHIEVED ON THE SAKE OF ENVIRONMENT AND POOR FOLKS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

Shortcomings of GDP From 2004-2014, France’s GDP has

increased by 53.1% In 2008, France’s GDP climbed to an

all time high & subsequently dropped GDP as an indicator omits any such

unforeseen situations Few More Drawbacks being: Underground/Unofficial economy Material well being

Source: www.investopedia.com

Why not GNP?Few Examples

If we spend more money on lawyers to sue each other, GNP goes up.

If crime goes up, we hire more police officers and buy bigger locks and louder alarm systems, and the GNP goes up.

We can spend $120 million per fighter plane for our national defence, and the GNP goes up.

Source:www.nscblog.com

WHY GNH? GNH stands for the holistic needs GNH seeks to promote a conscious, inner search for

happiness and requisite skills It supports the notion that happiness pursued and

realized within the context of the greater good of society Offers the best possibility for the sustained happiness of

the individual

Measures economic well-being, security & happiness GNH Index reflects GNH values, set benchmarks , track

policies & performances of the country Public policies based on GNH will be far less arbitrary

than those based on standard economic tools

Critical Analysis of GNH It is subjective More Qualitative than Quantitative Definition varies from individual to individual Peace & happiness are two important essence It has proved no guarantee of individual human rights It does not protect diversity  It has managed to distract attention away from more

transparent and participative attempts to measure well-being Not only Economic Development but also Non-Economic

factors of well-being India ranks 118th in 2016 in Happiness Index In 2015, India ranked 117th

So for all those who feel that you are happy living in India, this news will definitely make you feel unhappy

Countries RankingsDenmark 1st

Switzerland 2nd

Iceland 3rd

Norway 4th

Finland 5th

Australia 9th

Israel 11th

Somalia 76th

China 83rd

Pakistan 92nd

Iran 105th

Palestinian Territories 108th

Bangladesh 110th

India 118th

Few Rankings (2016 GNH Report)

Source: The Hindu

Conclusion

Can we follow GNH policy in India? For countries like India it can be a good

idea of combining GDP & GNH together to form a better indicator

GNH is more of a micro level concept, so developed countries seem to be happier as per capita income and individual welfare is higher

Hence for developing countries has to be quantitative + qualitative concept

REFERENCES http://grossnationalhappiness.com/wp-content/uploads/201

2/04/Short-GNH-Index-edited.pdf http://www.thehindu.com/ http://www.forbes.com/ http://worldhappiness.report/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/20

16/03/HR-V1Ch2_web.pdf http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp (GDP) http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/gross-national-pro

duct.asp( GNP)

http://www.nscblog.com/miscellaneous/gnp-vs-gnh-gross-national-happiness/ (GNP Vs GNH, Case Study of Bhutan, Shortcomings of GNP)

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gnh.asp (GNH) http://www.newsteadwood.bromley.sch.uk/BBC-News-Day-1

9th-March-2015/Why_are_the_Scandinavian_countries_are_the_happiest_countries_in_the_world.pdf

REFERENCES http://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/society/can

-india-link-gdp-with-gross-national-happiness http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-world-happine

ss-report-2016-india-ranked-118th/article8365329.ece (GNH)

https://prezi.com/g4sy4ngym5jo/why-should-we-use-gnh-gross-national-happiness-over-gdp-and-hdi/ (GNH over GDP)

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/09/04/gross-national-happiness-a-bad-idea-whose-time-has-gone/ (GNH Analysis)