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Thursday, 27 April 2006, 15:45 GMT 16:45 UK

Bhutan's happiness formula

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The remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is the only country in the world which puts happiness at the heart of government policy.

Building

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The government must consider every policy for its impact not only on Gross Domestic Product, but also on GNH: "Gross National Happiness".

Musicians

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The politics of happiness has led Bhutan to make very different decisions from countries simply searching for wealth.

Bhutan advert

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The capital, Thimpu, is remarkable for its lack of advertising. In an attempt to hold back consumerism the city council recently banned hoardings promoting Coke and Pepsi.

Televisions for sale

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Bhutan was the last nation in the world to introduce television in 1999. Recently they banned a number of channels including international wrestling and MTV, which they felt did little to promote happiness.

Bhutanese children

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Bhutan has even banned plastic bags and tobacco on the grounds that they make the country less happy.

Controlling the traffic

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The one set of traffic lights Bhutan ever had was on this junction. But people found them frustrating, so they went back to a human being.

Flags

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Buddhist prayer flags flutter in the wind. In Bhutan the government puts inner spiritual development on a par with material improvement.

Mountains in Bhutan

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One of the pillars of Bhutan's happiness philosophy is care for the environment. Strict conservation laws are aimed at achieving sustainable development.

Market traders

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Development has been moderated and people are less well off financially than they could have been.

Bhutan landscape

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Bhutan has been able to adopt radical policies partly because it is a remote kingdom and partly because it is an absolute monarchy.

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