A better way to gauge our well-being
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The "happiness index" has increasingly shifted from a psychological topic to the center theme of the governments' administrative guidelines. The phrase now frequently appears in government reports from the UK to China's local governments.
First coined by the tiny mountain country of Bhutan, gross national happiness (GNH) is built on the core elements of sustainable development, the preservation of cultural values, the conservation of the natural environment, and the establishment of good governance. Now, governments including France and Canada are working to develop their own versions of the happiness index.
It is widely accepted that economic growth and wealth accumulation do not necessarily lead to a sense of happiness. The question is what is the exact composition of happiness?
China ranks differently in various polls, from 29th on the Happy Planet Index 2.0 done by the New Economics Foundation in 2009 to No. 125 in a recent Gallup World Poll.
It is difficult to depict an individual's status as being happy or not, and it is even more so to find a way of gauging a country's well-being, though there seems to be no lack of grumpy ordinary people in China nowadays.
It is necessary for China to define "happiness" that suits the country. There are now many rather vague attempts to incorporate the idea of happiness into administration. For example, in the assessment of local officials' performance, additional yardsticks such as citizens' satisfaction are taken into consideration. A serious environmental accident can completely wipe out an official's chance of promotion.
Meanwhile, though GDP does not equal happiness, it is not correct to dismiss the relationship between GDP and happiness.
The basic elements of a quality life, a stable job and advanced social welfare, rely on continued economic development. A fast growing country with abundant opportunities for individuals should be more able to create sense of happiness than a country struggling in stagnancy.
Everyone has their own definition of happiness, but a general consensus among the public can help iron out disagreements and regulate individual behavior in everyday life. Societies that emphasize family values and encourage innovation are generally considered as having happier nationals.
The Chinese public wants a greater sense of happiness in their everyday lives now. Coming up with China's own version of a happiness index, rather than adopting a Western interpretation, is a reasonable solution.
