Which index is associated with measuring happiness and was started by Bhutan?

Which index is associated with measuring happiness and was started by Bhutan?

• A. Gross National Happiness Index
• B. Global Happiness Index
• C. Wellbeing Index
• D. Happy Planet Index

Answer: (A)

Measuring happiness through a dedicated index is about tracking well-being across multiple facets, not just money. Bhutan introduced the Gross National Happiness index to capture progress in a holistic way. It treats happiness as a multi-dimensional goal, balancing economic development with social and cultural well-being, environmental health, and good governance. The framework rests on four broad pillars and nine specific domains, including psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, living standards, community vitality, ecological diversity, and governance. This approach keeps policy focused on improving overall happiness, not merely increasing income or GDP. Other named indexes exist, but they were not started by Bhutan or are organized around different emphasis. The Global Happiness Index isn’t the Bhutan-originated measure, and the Wellbeing Index is a generic term often used for various measures of welfare. The Happy Planet Index combines well-being with ecological footprint but is developed by different organizations and isn’t the Bhutan-driven GNH framework.

Measuring happiness through a dedicated index is about tracking well-being across multiple facets, not just money. Bhutan introduced the Gross National Happiness index to capture progress in a holistic way. It treats happiness as a multi-dimensional goal, balancing economic development with social and cultural well-being, environmental health, and good governance. The framework rests on four broad pillars and nine specific domains, including psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, living standards, community vitality, ecological diversity, and governance. This approach keeps policy focused on improving overall happiness, not merely increasing income or GDP.

Other named indexes exist, but they were not started by Bhutan or are organized around different emphasis. The Global Happiness Index isn’t the Bhutan-originated measure, and the Wellbeing Index is a generic term often used for various measures of welfare. The Happy Planet Index combines well-being with ecological footprint but is developed by different organizations and isn’t the Bhutan-driven GNH framework.