Gross National Happiness is the development philosophy of Bhutan, the concept implies that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards the notion of progress and give equal importance to the non-economic aspect of well-being. There should be a balance between materialism and spiritualism and it’s often been explained by the four pillars: Good governance, Sustainable socio–economic development, Cultural Preservation, and environmental conservation. Bhutan now measures progress through Gross National Happiness and the goal of development as making people prosperous and happy.
The late 3rd king of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk expressed his view, on the importance of “prosperity and Happiness” and was highlighted in his address on the occasion of Bhutan’s admission to the United Nations in 1971. The fourth king His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk emphasized that for Bhutan “Gross National Happiness” is more important than “Gross National Product”.
The philosophy of Gross National Happiness has received international recognition and the United Nation has implemented a resolution that the Gross Domestic Product does not effectively reflect the happiness and well-being of people and that the pursuit of happiness is a basic human goal.