The gross national happiness concept of Bhutan and its application in Hungary at the Attila József Residential Area, Budapest

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to introduce the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) of Bhutan. Furthermore, it summarizes a qualitative explorative research that aimed at applying GNH on the level of the local community at the Attila József residential area in Budapest. The introduction expounds the history of happiness research in Hungary, and the appearance of ‘wellbeing’, ‘happiness’, and ‘quality of life’ in the international discussion to develop alternative development indicators.

The first and second chapters of the paper summarize the nine dimensions (psychological well-being; health; education; cultural diversity and resilience; time use; good governance; community vitality; living standards; and ecological diversity and resilience), and the operationalization of GNH in Bhutan, and the attempts of applying the concept outside of the country and on different socio-economic levels. The results of the action-oriented, explorative research are included in the third chapter, and they show that action plans can and need to be introduced in the Attila József residential area in three dimensions of GNH, which are community vitality; living standards; and ecological diversity and resilience (by creating closed community spaces, utilizing the opportunities of community planning, consciously preparing for the renovation of apartment buildings, improving the cleanliness of public spaces, and protecting the neighboring public forest, etc.) that can contribute to improving residents’ quality of life.