Officials and scholars met Wednesday in Bangkok to discuss whether economic achievements alone are a satisfactory indicator of citizens' well-being. The International Conference on Happiness and Public Policy discussed the concept of gross national happiness, or GNH, which contends that global development cannot focus solely on economic prosperity, growth and productivity. The four pillars of gross national happiness are cultural promotion, equitable economic development, good governance and environmental conservation. The more than 300 participants at the conference will compare countries' education levels, life expectancies and standards of living to determine development approaches to boost happiness.
AP