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Happiness, the Sufficiency Economy and the Middle Way

Happiness, the Sufficiency Economy and the Middle Way. Peter Warr. To be a tiger is not important. The important thing for us is to have a sufficiency economy, which means to have enough to survive. H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej, December 1997. The Economics of ‘Enough’.

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Happiness, the Sufficiency Economy and the Middle Way

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  1. Happiness, the Sufficiency Economy and the Middle Way Peter Warr

  2. To be a tiger is not important. The important thing for us is to have a sufficiency economy, which means to have enough to survive. H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej, December 1997

  3. The Economics of ‘Enough’ All major institutions in Thailand claim to be adopting H.M. the King’s ‘Sufficiency Economy’ principles. There is no debate about this matter, but there is a debate about what the principles mean and how they should be applied. This presentation attempts to arrive at an “outsider’s” understanding of these concepts by looking at them in the following five ways:

  4. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  5. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  6. H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej: Themes of speeches on ‘Sufficiency Economy’ (i) Sensible material aspirations… ‘…Development of the nation must be carried out in stages, starting with the laying of the foundation by ensuring the majority of the people have their basic necessities … Once a reasonably firm foundation has been laid and in effect, higher levels of economic growth and development should be promoted…”. 18 July 1974

  7. ‘…no matter what others say –whether they will accuse Thailand of being old-fashioned or obscurantist. So long as we have enough to live on and to live for – and this should be the wish and determination of all of us – without aiming for the apex of prosperity, we shall already be considered as the top in comparison with other countries in the present world…” 4 December 1974 A book entitled Mahajanaka, written by H.M. King Bhumipol, described the destructive effects of (a) greed and (b) ignorance or delusion. published 1992

  8. ‘To be a tiger is not important. The important thing for us is to have a sufficiency economy, which means to have enough to survive.’ 4 December 1997 ‘I may add that full sufficiency is impossible. If a family or even a village wants to employ a full sufficient economy, it would be like returning to the Stone Age … This sufficiency means to have enough to live on. If everyone has enough to live on, everything will be all right.’ 1998

  9. Illustrative example of a diversified farm with thirty percent of land for a pond to collect water to be used for cultivation in the dry season, and to raise fish; thirty percent for rice cultivation sufficient for all year round home consumption; thirty percent for integrated field and garden crops, and fruits; and ten percent for housing and other activities such as livestock enclosures, mushroom nursery, and roads. 1994 (ii) … while avoiding excessive risk…

  10. (iii) …combined with self-reliance… ‘This sufficiency means to have enough to live on. Sufficiency means to lead a reasonably comfortable life, without excess, or overindulgence in luxury, but enough. Some things may seem to be extravagant, but if it brings happiness, it is permissible as long as it is within the means of the individual…’ ‘Some people translate ‘sufficiency’ from the English as: to stand on one’s own feet… This means standing on our own two legs planted on the ground, so we can remain without falling over, and without asking others to lend us their legs to stand on…’ 1998

  11. ‘Sufficiency Economy is a philosophy that stresses appropriate conduct and way of life while incorporating moderation, due consideration in all modes of conduct, and the need for sufficient protection from internal and external shocks. 21 November 1999 (iv) … with concern for the protection of others…

  12. (v) … and with concern for non-material aspects of life ‘Progress is not just about planting enough rice to eat. There must be enough to create schools, even works of art, so that Thailand prospers in every way, with no hunger or poverty, food for body and soul, and many other things.’ and ‘The driving force for development had to come from within, based on accumulation of knowledge. In summary: Self-reliance. Moderation. Resilience. Inner dynamic. Knowledge.’ 2003

  13. (v) … and with concern for non-material aspects of life ‘Progress is not just about planting enough rice to eat. There must be enough to create schools, even works of art, so that Thailand prospers in every way, with no hunger or poverty, food for body and soul, and many other things.’ and ‘The driving force for development had to come from within, based on accumulation of knowledge. In summary: Self-reliance. Moderation. Resilience. Inner dynamic. Knowledge.’ 2003

  14. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  15. The three poisons • Greed • Hatred • Ignorance The three antidotes • Recognising unsatisfactoriness • Recognising impermanence • Recognising the unreality of the self

  16. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  17. (1= Dissatisfied to 10= Satisfied)

  18. (1=Dissatisfied to 10 =Satisfied)

  19. (1=Not at all happy to 4 = Very happy)

  20. (1= Not at all happy to 4 = Very happy)

  21. (1=Not at all happy to 4 = Very happy)

  22. Experience Happiness Income

  23. Beyond a GDP per capita of about $20,000 there is small additional gain in realised happiness or life satisfaction. Diminishing marginal happiness. Why? Some hypotheses: • Individuals adapt, becoming accustomed to affluence. The ‘hedonic treadmill’ (apologies to Paul Frijters) • At low incomes we spend on necessities. At high incomes we spend on status / positional goods. If all obtain these goods there is no net gain in ‘status’, no net gain in happiness.

  24. Implications: • The concept of ‘enough’ starts to make sense, even to an economist • We expect risk aversion

  25. Expectation I Happiness B A Income

  26. But what if individuals are not good at predicting the happiness they will really derive from greater wealth?

  27. Actual and Expected Happiness: The Impact Bias

  28. What if individuals mistakenly think that marginal happiness is increasing? • They will be dominated by greed • They will be excessively materialistic • They will be excessively risk taking

  29. Expectation II (Greed) Happiness Income

  30. Expectation II (Greed) Happiness B A Income

  31. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  32. Thailand: Real GDP Per Capita and Growth of Real GDP Per Capita, 1951-2006

  33. ‘To be a tiger is not important. The important thing for us is to have a sufficiency economy, which means to have enough to survive.’ 4 December 1997

  34. Five perspectives • 1. Extracting key themes from Royal speeches on the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ • 2. Relating these concepts to Buddhist philosophy • 3. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ concepts to research on the economics of ‘happiness’ • 4. Relating the development of these concepts to major economic developments in Thailand • 5. Relating the ‘Sufficiency Economy’ message to economic policy

  35. The sufficiency economy perspective does not imply that zero growth is optimal. Long term economic growth generates demonstrable social gains

  36. Thanks for listening

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