The Analysis of Results of Research into 'the Ideal Society' in Japan, Sweden and Bhutan: Using the indicator of Human Satisfaction Measure (HSM)

In: Gross National Happiness: Practice and Measurement: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Gross National Happiness. Thimphu, Centre for Bhutan Studies 2008, pp. 49-87 . ISBN 978-99936-14-52-4

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Abstract

The human satisfaction measures (HSM) as a sustainable social welfare indicator includes the triple bottom line (society, environment and economy) inevitable for Sustainable Development under six categories, namely, labour, health, education, gender, environment and income. HSM version 1-3 was developed by assigning equal weight to the indicators of the six categories. Considering interpersonal differences in the value to six categories, the author tried to calculate weighting coefficients using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. A web-based survey "The Questionnaire on Ideal Society" was conducted in Japan (2007) and Sweden (2008). In addition in Bhutan, the author asked five experts to answer the questionnaire on her visit to Bhutan in 2007.