Happy talk
David Cameron wants to measure our happiness alongside GDP. The first measure of happiness — the Gross National Happiness index — was instigated by the former king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in 1972.
— Heavily influenced by Buddhist teachings, it contained questions which might not strike many Britons as being important to their happiness. One asked: ‘Do you know the names of species and plants and animals in the local area?’ Another asked: ‘How would you rate your knowledge of the mask and other dances performed during national/local tshechu?’
— Respondents were marked down on the index if they worked less than seven hours a day, if they had more than a 60-minute walk to the nearest health centre and if they donated less than 10 per cent of their income to charity.
Family size
A newly nominated Tory peer, Howard Flight, apologised after criticising the benefits system for encouraging the poor to have more children.
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