GDP plus GNH: a True Indicator of a country’s well-being.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) recently published the Global Happiness Index. It covers a range of parameters with citizen surveys & government reports as key ingredients. The results of such a comprehensive report were much anticipated by everyone. Although, to no surprise, Nordic countries once again found their place on top of the table.

What really surprised me were the contrasting results of some wealthy countries. It did really shake my conscience. Saudi Arabia, the major Gulf power, was nowhere in the top 100. For a country endowed with rich fossil fuel resources, a tourism hub for the world’s largest religion, and per capita income exceeding some of the developed OECD countries, the result for them was hardly palpable for me.

On the other hand, Bhutan, a small country packed between hills & two rising global powers, was well there challenging the so-called western GDP model of development. This really made me think about what constitutes the well-being of a country which leads to the happiness of all.
In this essay, we will ponder what constitutes the well-being of a country. Is GDP growth the right way to achieve it? If not, what else do we need to achieve well-being? Are GDP & GNH decoupled or complementary to each other?

Achieving well-being of a region is a humongous task in itself. Not only because of the resources and effort that go into it but also due to its unprecise definitions. Sociologists, economists, philosophers, all have their own connotations for the term and develop different models to achieve the same. Is the idea of well-being just new or has it been there for some time in parallel?

The Harappan civilization was well known for its splendid drainage system, trade activities, self-sufficiency in food production, etc. Recently, archaeologists in Rajasthan discovered a skeleton of a smiling couple dating back to the Harappan era. Carbon dating and spectral studies show that the skeleton was strong and might have lived a delightful life. So, well-being was there in Harappan times when there was no money involved. It really shows that the notion of well-being in economic and monetary terms is surely flawed.

Husen Tusang (a Chinese traveler) came to the court of the last Hindu emperor. Although, at that time trade was declining and the economy was not in a good state, he found that the people of Hindustan were living a happy settled life.
Aurangzeb is considered one of the ablest Mughal leaders who ruled India. He really ruined the economy, but his religious bigotry and intolerance towards Hindu kingdoms & citizens made his entire empire hostile.

The Britishers, in the race of colonialism, acquired colonies spreading across all continents. It made rich trade and boasted itself of civilizing the uncivilized. But were all the citizens of those colonies happy? The Indian case would surely reply with a no to it.
In the modern era, India aspires to be a 5 Trillion $ economy to increase its stature in the world and become the third-largest economy. But when one looks at its current Happiness Index and Human Development Index position, one will surely ask if it is worth achieving 5 T $ marks in the same ongoing way.

With increasing GDP and achieving the tag of fastest-growing economy, India has also witnessed rising inequality with the top 1% wealthy people cornering 65% of wealth created in the last year and the bottom half getting hold of just 1% wealth as per Oxfam Inferential report. Patriarchal structure, crimes on the rise, atrocities against vulnerable scheduled caste & tribes people, home to the world’s largest multidimensional poor – one can surely say that this economic growth is not going to achieve well-being for all.
In the quest for economic growth, Brazil is burning the lungs of the Earth which has effects splashing all over Mother Earth. Rising sea levels and erratic weather patterns due to global warming and climate change put the country in a position where dollars will not be able to restore environmental health.

The economic growth and per capita income of North Korea are not that bad, but the country has one of the world’s most unhappy populations. Restrictions on free speech and fundamental human rights have made the citizens’ lives a living hell. Similarly, Hong Kong unrest over Chinese government communist and restrictive influence shows that it takes more than being the world’s second-largest economy to tie a knot with.

So, since the GDP model is flawed, what have Nordic countries done to achieve well-being and happiness? Many of them have followed the socialist democratic model. They are not countries with big GDP numbers, but they surely have found the formula for well-being.

Well-being is a state where citizens have ample opportunities and freedom to gain meaningful education, a healthy lifestyle, and career opportunities. To achieve all these, they must get the required basic facilities with which they can build their capacities to live a happy life.
A democratic state is considered the first step for “rule of the people, for the people, by the people.” When governance reaches the last man in the row, he will feel fully empowered and satisfied.

“Lust, greed & anger make one’s life equivalent to hell” – Bhagavad Gita.
Education is the means to achieve the ends of well-being. Education based on ethics & morality takes one to appreciate the beauty of life.
It guides an individual to leave lust, greed & anger and work for society with a heart full of gratitude & generosity. The idea was imbibed by Japanese & Bhutanese citizens from school education and we can see their good performance.

A country like India, which is surrounded by troubled neighbors & crime circuits, has much more to do than just focusing on overall well-being.

“Violence anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.”
The principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” has to be imbibed in international diplomacy & inter-governmental organizations. They should work together to achieve the well-being of all on Mother Earth planet.

Lastly, well-being has to be inclusive. “Antyodaya” has to be the principle in government policies. And along with human & economic capital, environmental capital should never be neglected.
It is only when growth is holistic in aspect, inclusive in penetration, empowering in nature that all parameters of GDP & GNH will fall in line & lead to the way of well-being.