The Himalayan country of Bhutan has a population of 650 000 and a per-capita Gross National Income (GNI) of only US$ 1200. But this small country ranks among the top in indicators that gauge a country's level of happiness. Indeed, former King Wangchuck (1955- , r.1972-2006) of Bhutan has set the improvement of his country's ‘Gross National Happiness’ rather than Gross National Product (GNP) as a national objective. He also included a clause in the Constitution that requires 60 percent of Bhutan to remain as forests and invested state funds into education and medical benefits. As a result, the average life span of Bhutanese people increased by 19 years between 1984 and 1998. The king himself lives in a log house in a forest, so people do not waste time comparing the sizes of their houses or measuring each other's wealth.
Costa Rica in Central America has a GNI of just US$ 6500. Its roads are reminiscent of Korea back in the 1960s and its buildings are crumbling. But some 100 000 retired Americans packed up and went to Costa Rica to spend their twilight years there. The country boasts pristine rainforests that set the scene for the filming of Jurassic Park and a laid-back social atmosphere where people can live long and comfortably even if they do not have a lot of money. The Happy Planet Index, compiled and released by Britain's New Economics Foundation, last year put Costa Rica at the top among 143 countries.
There was a time when a country or individual was considered happy if they were rich. But in 1999, the British magazine New Scientist asked people in 79 countries how happy they were and found some surprising facts. Nigeria ranked first, while Mexico and Venezuela came in second and third. In a special feature in 2005, the New York Times cited Bhutan in reporting that a standard other than economic growth has now become necessary to gauge a country's level of happiness.
Denmark came first in a recent Gallup poll on happiness among people in 155 countries. Scandinavian countries Finland, Norway and Sweden followed. When a mother gives birth to a child in Denmark, she is given a pamphlet that reads "Your child is not yours," meaning the entire country will take care of the baby. The reason why people are so happy is because of their trust in their government that their taxes will be used to make their lives more comfortable.
Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 370 times from US$ 2.32 billion in 1970. But the satisfaction among its people still ranks between 50th to 100th place. The government, in other words, has failed to make Koreans happy, despite their efforts to spend less and work harder.
Costa Rica in Central America has a GNI of just US$ 6500. Its roads are reminiscent of Korea back in the 1960s and its buildings are crumbling. But some 100 000 retired Americans packed up and went to Costa Rica to spend their twilight years there. The country boasts pristine rainforests that set the scene for the filming of Jurassic Park and a laid-back social atmosphere where people can live long and comfortably even if they do not have a lot of money. The Happy Planet Index, compiled and released by Britain's New Economics Foundation, last year put Costa Rica at the top among 143 countries.
There was a time when a country or individual was considered happy if they were rich. But in 1999, the British magazine New Scientist asked people in 79 countries how happy they were and found some surprising facts. Nigeria ranked first, while Mexico and Venezuela came in second and third. In a special feature in 2005, the New York Times cited Bhutan in reporting that a standard other than economic growth has now become necessary to gauge a country's level of happiness.
Denmark came first in a recent Gallup poll on happiness among people in 155 countries. Scandinavian countries Finland, Norway and Sweden followed. When a mother gives birth to a child in Denmark, she is given a pamphlet that reads "Your child is not yours," meaning the entire country will take care of the baby. The reason why people are so happy is because of their trust in their government that their taxes will be used to make their lives more comfortable.
Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 370 times from US$ 2.32 billion in 1970. But the satisfaction among its people still ranks between 50th to 100th place. The government, in other words, has failed to make Koreans happy, despite their efforts to spend less and work harder.
It is said that personal happiness depends to a certain extent on our own attitude. But who should be responsible for improving the happiness that is felt by the entire public? The government and politicians need to get to work to make this happen.
Giorgio Olivotto
Seoul, Korea
5 September 2010
Seoul, Korea
5 September 2010
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