Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, the small kingdom of Bhutan rejects “the dictatorship of gross domestic product (GDP)” and economic growth at all costs, by offering a new indicator of wealth: gross national happiness (GNH).
Launched in 1972, the “new paradigm” is based on four pillars: environmental protection, conservation and promotion of Bhutanese culture, good governance, and responsible and sustainable economic development.
Today, GNH permeates all aspects of the country’s life, leading to profound changes in the land of the thunder dragon, which has transitioned from the Middle Ages to modernity in less than fifty years.
And in France? After the first and second editions, the Spinoza Factory has just published the latest results of the Happiness GDP, which is the quarterly indicator of the happiness of the French.
The Happiness GDP grows by 1.7% in just 2 quarters.
In two quarters, the significant growth of the “Happiness GDP” indicates a beginning of peace. It grows by 1.7% in just 2 quarters, compared to the annual growth of traditional GDP of 1.3% between 2014 and 2015.
The proportion of happy French people increases from 50 to 53%, and there is a significant increase in emotional happiness between the first and third quarters in terms of positive emotions: gratitude, laughter, smiling, and a decrease in negative emotions: worry, sadness, depression, fatigue, stress, anger.
The Happiness GDP increases simultaneously with a reduced worry of losing or not finding a job, less disturbed sleep, and a timidly renewed confidence.
By aggregating 3 quarters of measurement, the profile of the happy French person becomes clearer: he is a man (although historically less happy than women since the 1970s), wealthy, educated, elderly, from Brittany, and not a supporter of the National Front. The happiest represent 19% compared with 4% of the least happy, confirming a national happiness divide.
The comparison of the best-rated to the worst-rated items suggests that the French are still focused on themselves or their immediate environment, and not engaged or not particularly confident in the collective. They give the best marks to their place of residence, family, close support, and personal path.
And the worst marks to the future of the world, job security, gratitude, and trust in others.
