Transcript Academic Session

Academic Session
From 26th November, 2007
From the
researches,
• We found that GDP growth does not lead to
happiness;
– on the contrary uncontrolled growth leads to social and
environmental degradation and less happiness.
• Happiness can come from:
– urbanization, spatial planning, cheap and
effective water treatment, microfinance and
Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (self-immunity)
– civil engagement in shaping and appraising social
process (ex.Thailand’s southern border provinces)
• Individually, Happiness comes from:
– age, education, earned status, time
use/balancing work and life, way of thinking and
right livelihood
Creating happiness
• Tools
– Using ‘dialogue’
– Using ‘story telling’
• Actors
– Monastic body
– Teachers
– Government
• A point to be concerned is social
transform is complex and
nonlinear process.
GNH/happiness Indicators
should…
• Measure its multidimensional
nature
• Incorporate the measurement of
– abstract value and
– human needs: from the basic needs
to complicated spiritual needs
• Creating Indicators should
consider
– environmental issues.
– well-being which included happiness
of individual & society
– lifetime satisfaction and
– Mental quality and capacity.
What are next
steps?
1. Research Strengthening
–
–
–
relativity and subjectivity
action researches
common vocabularies
2. New Knowledge Creation/
Interdisciplinary Research
3. Cross-cultural research: universalism
vs. parochialism
4. Learning Community: off & on-line
5. Research for Policy Advocacy