BHUTAN: WSJ looks at Bhutan's Gross Domestic Happiness

Bhutan's Gross National Happiness has gotten some publicity over the years. Today, it gets front-page attention in the Wall Street Journal. From "Smile Census: Bhutan Counts Its Blessings" by Peter Wonacott:

THIMPHU, Bhutan -- If you're happy and you know it, and you happen to be Bhutanese, Karma Tshiteem might like a word with you.

Mr. Tshiteem is the new head of the Gross National Happiness Commission for the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. It's his job to figure out how to boost morale as this long-isolated country hurtles toward modernization.

Developed in the 1980s by Bhutan's fourth king, Gross National Happiness, or GNH, is a Bhutanese twist on Gross Domestic Product. Up till now, it has not represented an actual dollar figure, but rather, a fuzzy set of principles on the environment and culture. It has produced unique policies, such as a smoking ban, strict limits on deforestation and a dress code.

Now, GNH is about to face a series of big tests. On Monday, Bhutan will hold its first democratic election. That will install a parliament, pass a new constitution and dilute the powers of a popular monarch. Later this year, Bhutan plans to join the World Trade Organization, even though its industry comprises little more than high-end tourism and hydroelectric power.

[Read the rest of the piece here.]

In same edition of the WSJ, Stan Sesser has a piece about the official end of smoking in the kingdom:

As Bhutan sets about measuring the kingdom's happiness levels, one group might not be smiling: smokers.

Each year, countries around the world are putting more restrictions on cigarettes, heaping new taxes and health warnings on top of limitations on where they can be smoked and how they can be advertised. But Bhutan has taken the ultimate step -- banning the sale of all tobacco products.

Read the rest of the piece here. Post your comments below.