This dissertation was supervised by Dr Ronita Bardhan and can be read in full here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275125001878.
This research empirically shows that in Bhutan, happiness isn't just a philosophy—it shapes policies, communities, and even housing. The paper ‘Residential Satisfaction in a Country that Prioritises Happiness: Empirical Evidence from Affordable Housing in Bhutan’ explores how Gross National Happiness (GNH) influences residential satisfaction (RS) in a country often underrepresented in global research and data. The study covers the largest affordable housing communities in Bhutan, with housing characteristics, management services, and public facilities emerged as the strongest predictors of satisfaction.
What matters most? Residents value housing quality and social environment, and prioritize public facilities, resilience, and management services. Residential satisfaction is directly linked to happiness, as measured through Bhutan’s GNH framework.