In 2021, Gabor Kovacs conducted a research project within the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology that explored the applicability of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework to the Attila Jozsef residential area of Budapest.
The Attila Jozsef residential area in Budapest.
Gabor Kovacs collected and analyzed the endeavors of international organizations to create alternative development indicators which include wellbeing, happiness, and quality of life. The project summarized the history and the implementation of Gross National Happiness in Bhutan. In doing so, it revisited the four pillars of GNH which entail sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development; good governance; the preservation and promotion of culture; and environmental conservation.
These four pillars contain nine dimensions, which are (i) psychological wellbeing; (ii) health; (iii) education; (iv) cultural diversity and resilience; (v) time use; (vi) good governance; (vii) community vitality; (viii) living standards; and (ix) ecological diversity and resilience. The nine domains of GNH and their corresponding indicators constitute the framework within which the operationalization of Gross National Happiness is elaborated in Bhutan. The research project investigated the challenges and opportunities of adapting Gross National Happiness in countries outside Bhutan.
The empirical part of the project resulted in qualitative, explorative research conducted in the Attila Jozsef residential area of Budapest. The main finding was that, although the quality of life and the wellbeing of inhabitants are above average, three dimensions of Gross National Happiness could be improved. In order to avoid a decrease in the wellbeing of inhabitants, planned action needs to be taken in the specific fields of (i) community vitality; (ii) living standards; and (iii) ecological diversity and resilience.