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The Brian Lehrer Show / June 27, 2008 / The National Happiness Index

The National Happiness Index

Friday, June 27, 2008

Bhutan, the landlocked kingdom on the Himalayas, began an innovative measure of its people's well-being: an index known as the Gross National Happiness. But how is happiness best measured? As Bhutan is featured in this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival, we ask Kinley Dorji, Editor-In-Chief of Kuensel (Bhutan's first newspaper), and Preston T. Scott, a curator of the Festival program Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival


Comments

  • [1] anonyme June 27, 2008 - 10:51AM

    Nobody has anything to say about this?

    great topic
  • [2] Phyllis from Park Slope June 27, 2008 - 10:51AM

    Health, health, health, health.

    Once you have that...it is always possible to be happy....
  • [3] Walter from nyc June 27, 2008 - 10:55AM

    It's well known that people can not accurately predict what will make them happy. Isn't this part of the problem we have in trying to evan talk about happiness?
  • [4] Jessie from Brooklyn June 27, 2008 - 10:57AM

    A study that I read not to long ago contradicts this shows topic, the study indicates that wealth is absolutely correlated with happiness contrary to the popular myth.

    Poverty does not lead to happiness.
  • [5] Robert from NYC June 27, 2008 - 10:58AM

    I'm not unhappy, does that make me happy!?
  • [6] Nick from NYC June 27, 2008 - 11:02AM

    Some stats on Bhutan to consider (source: CIA World Fact Book):

    Population below poverty line: 31.7% (2003)

    Literacy rates:

    Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

    total population: 47%

    male: 60%

    female: 34% (2003 est.)

    Obviously some work still to be done - and, best to check with those people directly to ask them how happy they're feeling.
  • [7] Pavel Gurvich from Norwalk, CT June 27, 2008 - 11:11AM

    This discussion has no scientific basis and these indices totally artificial to the best of my knowledge.

    Happiness from medical point of view can be measured by amount of dopamin to be pumped in the brain.

    Different events may make humans happy. It can be prosperity. It can be presence in the group of people you identify you with. It can be victory of the team you root for. It can be election to the office yourself or candidate you voted for.

    If you can measure amount of dopamine pumped to the brain and correlate it to the events human goes through then we will be able to measure whether people in one place are happier than people in another place.


  • [8] peter from manhatten June 27, 2008 - 11:12AM

    what about the role of state propaganda in this? i have lived in several countries and most people seem to think they live in the best one of all, and that everyone else in the world is worse off.
  • [9] anonyme June 27, 2008 - 11:20AM

    this is a much deeper question than science and statistics - what does literacy have to do with happiness? Some of the most joyous people can't read - Down's babies, small children, for example. Buddhists look through such a different lens - this idea is a stretch for many, evidently
  • [10] levinej June 27, 2008 - 09:37PM

    Only hearing podcast of this segment -- may I point those interested to this wonderful film currently being produced by Emmy Award winning filmmaker specifically on Bhutan, GNH -- at this moment in time.

    http://www.sandokaiproductions.com

    Enjoy
  • [11] John A. Caputo - Bioenergetic Therapist from Rhinebeck, NY June 27, 2008 - 10:23PM

    Happiness to me is measured and quantified by our feelings emanating from the body, i.e. sensory or sensual awareness with responses, not by the ideas of things but what the somatic renderings are.

    The following can be used as quantifiers:

    1. The light coming from one’s eyes (bright, clear, alive)

    2. The ease of a full smile

    3. The warmth of touch

    4. The spring in one’s stepping

    5. The overall feeling of excitement upon hearing good news or seeing or touching something that produces a physical response in us, as in a child or adult jumping with joy.

    The truest measurement of happiness must be manifested in one’s body – always best represented by being fully animated. The more often this occurs, the greater the measure of happiness.

    For more information, visit http://www.myspace.com/breathenergymovement

This thread is closed.


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