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What is happiness? In the United States and in many other

industrialized countries, it is often equated with money. Economists

measure consumer confidence on the assumption that the resulting

figure says something about progress and public welfare. The gross

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domestic product is routinely used as shorthand for the well-being of

a nation.

But the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has been trying a

different idea. In 1972, concerned about the problems afflicting other

developing countries that focused only on economic growth,

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Bhutan’s newly crowned leader, King Wangchuck, decided to make

the gross national happiness a priority in his kingdom.

Bhutan, the king said, needed to ensure that prosperity was

shared across society and that it was balanced against preserving

cultural traditions, protecting the environment, and maintaining a

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responsive government.

While household incomes in Bhutan remain among the world’s

lowest, life expectancy increased by 19 years from 1984 to 1998,

jumping to 66 years. The country, which is preparing to shift to a

constitution and an elected government, requires that at least 60

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percent of its lands remain forested, welcomes a limited stream of

wealthy tourists, and exports hydropower to India.