James Mathew Mgaya – Art in Tanzania internship
To many, Gross Domestic Happiness (GDPH) or Gross National Happiness (GNH) may be new terminology, but it holds significant value for countries. Gross Happiness (GNH) is a measurement of the collective happiness in a nation. The Kingdom of Bhutan, a Himalayan country, introduced Gross National Happiness (GNH) in the 1970s as a comprehensive measure of both economic and moral progress, serving as an alternative to Gross Domestic Product. (GDP) The kingdom of Bhutan’s first legal code, written at the time of unification in 1729, stated that “if the government cannot create happiness for its people, there is no purpose for the government.”. GNH has nine domain pillars of measurement, which currently work internationally. These pillars provide the foundation for happiness, manifested in the nine domains of GNH: psychological well-being, standard of living, good governance, health, community vitality, cultural diversity, time use, and ecological sustainability. In short, the country prefers people to self-governed interests by living peacefully and harmoniously with its citizens.
What is the value of GNH?
Encourage investment; a country with a strong Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), which will contribute to the country’s economic growth. More FDI means that more foreign investors will start their businesses in Tanzania, thereby increasing our national income. In addition, it also encourages entrepreneurship and the establishment of new companies and enterprises owned by residents (Tanzanians).
Valuation of currency: The value of a currency, such as the Tanzanian shilling, depends on factors including interest rates, exports and imports, the currency’s international purchasing powerand foreign exchange reserves (the amount of currency held by foreign governme e value of a currency increases according to its circulation of money within international borders, facilitated by good diplomatic relations through global trade, financing, and business. GDH can achieve a good standard of living. This means there will be more available markets, increased purchasing power of consumers, and sound money circulation.
Good diplomatic relations internationally; GNH gives good governance and psychological well-being. These leaders maintained relationships with neighbouring countries and engaged in international collaborations that are economically and politically beneficial. Psychological well-being means that, through its resources, the government can ensure that life is satisfactory to some degree through its services, creating peace and harmony among citizens. Mentally stable countries bring relief to nearby countries and foster friendship due to their available labour forces and lack of political unrest, which attracts more investments from multinational companies and strengthens international relationships.
Increase in national production: GDP enables the government to incorporate principles of governance and sustainable development into its public policy decisions. This is when the government focuses on developing its citizen economy and infrastructure, such as in Tanzania’s strategic sectors, which provide both formal and informal employment opportunities to citizens. Building transportation enables citizens to increase production from producers to consumers, and the availability of water and electricity in rural areas stimulates production. It leads to the urbanisation of the rural regions, improving connectivity between factories and available raw materials.
For citizens to enjoy a higher standard of living, their government needs a sustainable income. For example, they utilise strategic projects in Tanzania to develop public goods in infrastructure, including roads, railways, bridges, aviation, and marine transportation. This is a life satisfactory to citizens who have access to transportation, bringing a good income to both the government and individuals. It creates formal and informal employment opportunities for citizens, generating revenue through toll bridges, such as Kigamboni and Dar es Salaam. Air Tanzania can create national income and facilitate marine transport in the lake zone, creating employment and generating national revenue. If citizens are satisfied with their government, it means there will be no political unrest, and the country’s nation will thrive.
The verdict
There is much to discuss regarding gross domestic happiness and the benefits it can offer when considered. It is an alternative Gross Domestic Product, which is based strictly on quantitative economic measures. Gross National Happiness considers an evolving mix of quality-of-life factors. The centre provides an overview of national performance across these pillars, laying the foundation for happiness, as reflected in the nine domains of GNH: psychological well-being, standard of living, good governance, health, education, community vitality, cultural diversity, time use, and ecological resilience.
