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7/30/2019 Presentation Alkire

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The Gross National

Happiness Index of Bhutan:Method and Illustrative Results

Dasho Karma Ura, Sabina Alkire, Tshoki Zangmo

The Centre for Bhutan Studies, Thimphu

Presented by Sabina Alkire, OPHI, Univ. of Oxford

12 October, 2011, OECD


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Background:

Legal code of 1729 if the government cannotcreate happiness for its people, then there is nopurpose for government to exist

4th

King of Bhutan, 1972 Gross NationalHappiness is more important than GrossNational Product

Constitution of Bhutan 2008 Article 9: TheState shall strive to promote those conditionsthat will enable the pursuit of Gross NationalHappiness.


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HM Jigme Khesar

Namgyel Wangchuck,5th King of Bhutan

We must always rememberthat as our country, in these

changing times findsimmense new challenges

and opportunities, whateverwork we do, whatever goalswe have and no matterhow these may change in

this changing world

ultimately without peace,security and happiness wehave nothing. That is the

essence of the philosophy ofGross National Happiness.Our most important goal isthe peace and happiness ofour people and the security

and sovereignty of thenation.


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9domainsof GNH

10th Plan

K. Ura


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Quality of Life and GNH Dimensions

Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Health

Education

Economic security

Personal Security Balance of Time

Voice & Governance

Social Connections

Environment

Subjective measuresof quality of life

Bhutans GNH Health

Education

Material Std of living

Time Use

Governance

Community Vitality

Ecological Diversity

Culture & spirituality

Emotional Well-being


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Happiness isMultidimensional

We have now clearlydistinguished the

happiness in GNH

from the fleeting, pleasurable feel good moods sooften associated with that term. We know that trueabiding happiness cannot exist while others suffer,and comes only from serving others, living in

harmony with nature, and realizing our innatewisdom and the true and brilliant nature of our ownminds.Prime Minister of Bhutan, 2009


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Objectives of GNH Index:

drawing on 2008 Pilot Index & tools

capture the essence of GNH

help in tracking national progress

The GNH Index (GNHI) is that criticalevaluation tool for results-based planning toensure that development truly contributes to

the achievement of GNH.

10th Five-year Plan of Bhutan, 2008


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Limitations of GNH Index:

It is unlikely that the GNHI will be a fullycomprehensive measure or be able to

entirely capture the diversity and

significanceof GNH

The measure will also need to bedynamic, [to] incorporate relevant

changes....

10th Five-Year Plan


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GNH Index Survey, 2010

Identified sample = 8700Completed Interviews = 7142

Retained Sample size = 6539

Sample representative of 20 districts,

and by rural and urban areas

758 variables, covering all 9 domains

55 enumerators: unusually high data quality

Draws on 2006 Pre-Pilot GNH Survey

and the 2008 Pilot GNH Survey


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GNH Indicators were selected

according to:

1) Normative values, official documents

2) Statistical properties (always tested)3) Category: objective / (subjective)

4) Policy relevance

5) Simplicity of interpretation

Here we present one trial GNH

Indexnot finalized.


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The GNH thresholds were selected by:

International standards: Eg. MDGs, ILO, Habitat

National standards: Eg. Twice income poverty line

Normative judgements: Eg. Positive emotions

Participatory meetings: Focus group discussions

(FGDs). Eg. FGDs suggested that threshold for landdepends upon land quality; here in Wangdiphodrang

5 acres is enough.


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Weighting:

9 domains are equally weighted

There are 33 sub-domains Subjective sub-domains have light

weights except in psych well-being

Robustness tests are performed


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Living

standard Assetsindicator(25% weight)

Mobile phone

Fixed phone

Personal computer

Refrigerator

Washing machine

Television

Livestock

Land size (5 acresthreshold)

Householdincome per

capita

(50% weight)

Housingindicator

(25% weight)Toilet Electricity

Quality of roof

Persons per room


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PsychologicalWellbeing

Health

Living standard

Occupation

Relationships

Work-life balance

Positiveemotions

Calmness

Empathy/compassion

Forgiveness

Contentment

Generosity

Negative emotions

Anger

Fear

Worry

Selfishness

Jealousy

Spirituality

Spiritualitylevel

Prayerrecitation

Meditation

Consideration of Karma


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Health

Mental health:

Able to concentrate

Lost sleep over worry

Playing useful part

Capable of makingdecisions

Constantly understrain

Difficult to cope withdifficulties

Able to enjoy

Able to face problems

Feeling unhappy anddepressed

Losing confidence

Thinking of self as aworthless person

Numberof

Healthydays

Selfreportedhealth

status10% weight

Disability

Long-termdisabilitythatrestricts

activities


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Education

Literacy

Knowledgeindex

local legends

and folk stories local tshechus

and festivals

constitution

How HIV/AIDSis transmitted

Schooling

Value : Littlejustification for

Killing

Stealing Lying

Creatingdisharmony amongpeople

Sexual misconduct


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Culturaldiversity

Culturalparticipa-

tion:

Number ofdays spent insocio-cultural

events in ayear

Speaknative

language

Artisticskills Weaving,

Embroidery,Painting, Carpentry,Carving, Sculpture,

Casting,Blacksmithing,Bamboo works,Gold/silversmith,Masonry,Leather works,Paper making

Etiquette

Importance

Changes inpractice


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Goodgovernance

* Voting, and

* Attending Zomdueat:

Chiwog level

Gewog level

Thromdue level

Performance

index Creating jobs

Reducing gapbetween richand poor

Providing

education Improving

health services

Fightingcorruption

Protectingenvironment

Preservingcultural andtraditions

Rights Freedom of speech & opinion

To vote

To join political party

To form/join tshogpa

To join public service

Equal value of work Freedom from discrimination

Serviceindex Walking time to

nearest healthcare centre

Waste disposal

Quality ofdrinking water

Participation inelections

D ti ti &


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Communityvitality

Donations time &money

Proportion of householdincome donated

Days of volunteeringFamily

Family care

Wish you werenot part of yourfamily

Familymembers argue

too much Feel like a

stranger in theyour family

Understandingin your family

Family is a real

source ofcomfort for you

Communityrelationship

Sense of belonging

Trust neighbours

Safety

Having been arecent victimof crime


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Ecologicaldiversity and

resilience

Pollutionindex

Pollution ofrivers andsteams

Air pollution

Absence ofwaste disposal

Landslides

Soil erosion

Floods

Littering

Noise pollution

Responsibilitytowards

Environment


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GNH

PsychologicalWellbeing

Satisfaction

Positive emotions

Negative emotions

Spirituality

Health

Mental health

Self reported healthstatus

Healthy daysDisability

Time Use

Work

Sleep

Education

Literacy

Educational Level

Knowledge IndexValue

CulturalDiversity

Speak native Language

Cultural Participation

Artistic Skills

Driglam Namzha

GoodGovernance

Performance Index

Rights

Service Index

Political Participation

CommunityVitality

Donations

Community

relationshipFamily

Safety

EcologicalDiversity andResilience

Pollution Index

Responsibility overnatural environment

WildlifePublic Transportaccess

Living Standards

Assets Indicator

Housing Indicator

Income


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MethodologyThe GNH Index uses a form of the Alkire

Foster Methodology (2007, 2011), used inMPI of UNDP, and for national poverty

Sufficiency Cutoffs

Each sub-domain identifies a person asdeprived if they have not achieved

sufficiency in that indicator.

Identification of HappinessTo allow for diversity, a person is

identified as happy if he or she has

achieved sufficiency in 70% of domains.


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A person is happy if he/she achieves sufficiency in

70% of the 9 domains

Dorji

Happy in 7 of the 9 domains,

so he is categorised as happy

Tashi

Happy in only 4 domains so sheis categorised as unhappy


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Formula for the GNH Index

GNH Index=1(Headcount x Breadth)

The GNH Index uses the Alkire Foster

aggregation for ordinal data.

HeadcountThis is the percentage of people who are

unhappy

Breadth (Intensity)This is the average percentage of

deprivations amongst the unhappy

Headcount and Breadth focus on deprivations

so as to inform policy

F l f GNH I d


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Formula for GNH Index

Results are only Illustrative

GNH Index = 1(Headcount * Breadth)GNH Index = 1- ( .822 x .431 ) = 0.645

82% of Bhutanese

lack sufficiency in

more than 30% of

domains.

18% have achieved

happiness

On average, people are

deprived in 43% of the

domains, or more than

4 of the 9 domains


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When cutoff =

30%, 82% of people

are deprived. 18%of people are

happy and enjoy

sufficiency in 70%

of domains.

When cutoff = 40%, 48%of people are deprived.

52% of people are

happy and enjoy

sufficiency in more than

60% of domains.


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When cutoff = 30%, the

average unhappy

person is deprived in

43% of domains.


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13.04%

4.99%

12.49%

14.37%

10.80%

11.32%

7.65%

13.53%

11.80%

What do 'unhappy' people lack?

Psychological wellbeing

Health

Time use

Education

Cultural diversity

Good governance

Community vitality

Ecological diversity andresilience

Living standards

0 750


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0.701

0.6810.674 0.672

0.668 0.6670.661 0.661

0.656 0.655 0.6530.649

0.6440.640 0.639

0.6330.627 0.626 0.624 0.622

0.618

0.607

0.583

0.500

0.550

0.600

0.650

0.700

0.750

GNH Index by dzongkhag (district) and region


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Contribution of deprived to subgroup happiness by domain

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Samdrup Jongkhar

Trongsa

Tashigang

Bumthang

Lhuntse

Tashi YangsteWangdue Phodrang

Samtse

Chukha

Rural

National

Punakha

MongarThimphu

Urban

Pema Gatshel

Gasa

Dagana

Zhemgang

Tsirang

Haa

Sarpang

ParoPsychologicalwellbeing

Health

Time Use

Education

Culturaldiversity

Goodgovernance

Communityvitality

Livingstandards

Ecologicaldiversity and

resilience

Urban areas

are deprived in

community

vitality.

0 750


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0.676

0.613

0.668

0.648

0.620

0.578

0.566

0.500

0.550

0.600

0.650

0.700

0.750

Male Female Nevermarried

Married Divorced Separated Widowed

GNH Index by Sex and Marital Status

0 800


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0.605

0.644

0.714

0.718

0.701

0.723

0.677

0.720

0.684

0.500

0.550

0.600

0.650

0.700

0.750

0.800GNH Index by Educational Level

i li ki i


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GNH in Policy Making: since 2008 GNHC

GNH PROJECT SELECTION TOOLS

GNH INDICATORS

SINGLE NUMBER GNH INDEXNational Index

ProgressMeasurement

Policy Making

Influence

Influence

GNH POLICY SCREENING TOOLS

ProjectFormulation


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Thank youT hi D l k

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