As we approach the final months of 2024, this year stands out as a historic milestone due to the significant transformations occurring in the country’s political landscape. It marks one of the most pivotal chapters in our history since gaining independence in 1948. In the globe as well as in Sri Lanka people discuss Industry [...]

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From Growth to Happiness: Crafting Policies for a Thriving and Content Nation

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As we approach the final months of 2024, this year stands out as a historic milestone due to the significant transformations occurring in the country’s political landscape. It marks one of the most pivotal chapters in our history since gaining independence in 1948. In the globe as well as in Sri Lanka people discuss Industry 4.0 and 5.0 and the digital transformation of manufacturing, human-centric collaboration with machines production and related businesses, along with the value creation processes that are being reshaped in this new era. In Science, humans are considered the smartest animals on Earth. However, we cannot explore many things as science always has limitations.

As an example, the ocean hovers around 70  percent of this earth, Anyway more than 80% of this is unobserved and unexplored by us. This is the same for humans as well. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the good examples for us to discuss. Prior to COVID-19, we used the term “epidemic,” anyway with the different experiences of COVID-19 we started to discuss something called “pandemic.”. COVID-19 has affected our health and economy as well. Nevertheless, people are now increasingly discussing their values and the human aspects of life, particularly in relation to relationships and interpersonal connections. In this context, we need to discuss Gross National Happiness (GNH) with the implications well.

Gross National Product (GNP), Vs Gross National  Happiness (GNH)

People always discuss Gross National Product (GNP), which is the combination of all output (domestic and foreign) generated by the citizens of a given country. If you want to address national issues such as inflation and poverty we need to always consider Gross National Product (GNP). But now we can see a totally different indicator coming into the equation. This we called as Gross National Happiness (GNH).GNH or  Gross National Happiness concerned about indicators such as well-being, social development, and environmental sustainability. Not like Gross National Product (GNP) the concept of Gross National  Happiness (GNH) offers a more holistic approach to measuring progress by looking at economic growth as well as overall happiness and quality of life of a nation’s citizens. Interestingly in GNH  index argued that sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards notions of progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of wellbeing. According to  Investopedia,  GHH is a measurement  of both economic and moral progress which was introduced by king of the Bhutan in the years 1970s. Gross National Product (GNP)  can be considered as an alternative to gross domestic product. Mostly we talk about numbers and compare numbers. But sometimes numbers do not tell you the truth. So instead of focusing on quantitative measurements in economics GNH  takes the collective happiness and well-being of a population into consideration. More importantly, Nordic countries which have a combination of social welfare and economic system are dominating the ranks of the World Happiness Report in the year 2024. The 2024 World Happiness Report ranked Finland as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden following closely. The United States and Germany dropped below the top 20, while Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20. Additionally, happiness levels among Americans, especially those under 30, have significantly declined in recent years. In comparing South Asian countries, the rankings reveal notable variations in various global indices. India is ranked 126th, closely followed by Sri Lanka at 128th, and Bangladesh at 129th, indicating similar positions within the region. Pakistan ranks 108th, positioned above India and its neighbours, while Nepal holds a better position at 93rd. This comparison highlights the differing levels of development and challenges faced by these countries, with Nepal and Pakistan showing a relatively stronger standing in this regional context.

Conclusion

The world is increasingly shifting from using “numbers to measure growth” to focusing on the “collective happiness and well-being” of populations.In this context, Sri Lanka now stands at a strategic crossroads for sustainable development, with an imperative to advance by prioritising collective happiness and well-being.. Sri Lanka is already equipped with the necessary competencies and capabilities, thanks to its advantageous location and talented human capital. Additionally, our long-standing heritage of Buddhism emphasises that happiness is achieved when one perceives the true nature of reality, free from the mental constructs we impose upon it (Ricard, 2014). To move forward, it is crucial to implement proper policy planning, especially in terms of the economy and other sectors, with a vision for the year 2030. By doing so, we can effectively achieve our targets and create a valued “passport” for the nation’s future.

-Professor Nalin Abeysekera

(The writer is a Professor in Management Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
You can reach him on nalinabeysekera@gmail.com.)

 

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