A recent theory is to change the perception in measuring a country's progress out of poverty. A rise in GDP does not necessarily mean that the country is seeing an improvement in their daily livelihood. A new way to think, is on how happy the people are and is this GDP correlating with a rise in happiness. The rise in production does not necessarily mean that there is a rise in people's well being. This change in thinking started in the Himalayas in Bhutan. People are not feeling better off even when technically the country is doing better. There needs to be a restoration in trust that the progress of the country is progress for the people. Focus on social well being, equality and sustainable growth, rather than just an increase in production. Economic resources and material goods are not the only thing that determine whether or not people are happy and better off; we need to increase both GDP and GDH.
-Sara Frodge
Source: AFP
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