Are you one of the 3 million citizens of Mongolia living happily? How do we define and measure happiness?
"New Economics Foundation", the British organization, has been studying the "Happy Planet Index" since 2006 to measure human happiness index. This study determines the impact of the well-being of human life on nature and the benefits it receives back.
Mongolia's HPI increased significantly between 2016-2019, but it was named the world's unhappiest country alongside Qatar.
Why?
It is because of our ecological footprint, or our high use of natural resources. The excess capacity of grasslands and intensifying desertification are negative ecological consequences left by Mongolians, and it is included among the countries with a high ecological footprint.
Are you one of the 3 million citizens of Mongolia living happily? How do we define and measure happiness?
"New Economics Foundation", the British organization, has been studying the "Happy Planet Index" since 2006 to measure human happiness index. This study determines the impact of the well-being of human life on nature and the benefits it receives back.
Mongolia's HPI increased significantly between 2016-2019, but it was named the world's unhappiest country alongside Qatar.
Why?
It is because of our ecological footprint, or our high use of natural resources. The excess capacity of grasslands and intensifying desertification are negative ecological consequences left by Mongolians, and it is included among the countries with a high ecological footprint.
"Happy Planet Index" of Mongolia was 14 in 2016, which was a low indicator behind countries such as Chad, Luxembourg, Togo, and Benin. In 2019, it increased to 24, but it is still the lowest figure behind Qatar. Qatar's index, which was not included in the 2016 survey, was 24. The index of the above-mentioned five countries, which was lower than ours, has risen above 30.
Happiness index is calculated by:
- Wellbeing
- Life expectancy
- Inequality
- Ecological footprint
The ecological footprint is determined by the amount of human use of its natural resources, and Mongolia ranks high behind countries such as the United States, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Estonia.
A low happiness index is also related to the Human development index. When calculating the HDI, factors such as "Healthy life", "Knowledge", and "Standard of living" are included. The standard of living determines the availability of income and services in a given location and social context.
As for Mongolia, the human development index has decreased by 0.002 points in the five years since 2017, depending on the following three factors. It became 0.739 in 2021. This is a number that has fallen by the same amount as countries like Qatar, Belarus, Bolivia and South Sudan on the happiness index. By the Human Development Index, Mongolia ranks 84th behind Ecuador, Algeria, and Azerbaijan.
"Happy Planet Index" of Mongolia was 14 in 2016, which was a low indicator behind countries such as Chad, Luxembourg, Togo, and Benin. In 2019, it increased to 24, but it is still the lowest figure behind Qatar. Qatar's index, which was not included in the 2016 survey, was 24. The index of the above-mentioned five countries, which was lower than ours, has risen above 30.
Happiness index is calculated by:
- Wellbeing
- Life expectancy
- Inequality
- Ecological footprint
The ecological footprint is determined by the amount of human use of its natural resources, and Mongolia ranks high behind countries such as the United States, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Estonia.
A low happiness index is also related to the Human development index. When calculating the HDI, factors such as "Healthy life", "Knowledge", and "Standard of living" are included. The standard of living determines the availability of income and services in a given location and social context.
As for Mongolia, the human development index has decreased by 0.002 points in the five years since 2017, depending on the following three factors. It became 0.739 in 2021. This is a number that has fallen by the same amount as countries like Qatar, Belarus, Bolivia and South Sudan on the happiness index. By the Human Development Index, Mongolia ranks 84th behind Ecuador, Algeria, and Azerbaijan.
One of the core factors that determine the human development index is knowledge and education. The decrease in our country's attention to education contributed to the decline of the index.
In 2018, Mongolia spent 6.17% of its GDP on education. It was ranked in the top 20 in the world. But in 2021, the rate dropped to 4.94% and the country fell to 34th place. GDP was reduced by 1.23%, which is the worst indicator in the world. The GDP of Mongolia in 2021 was USD 15.3 billion.
The countries that reduced the same education funding as us are Bhutan, Zambia, Eswatini and Uzbekistan.
One of the core factors that determine the human development index is knowledge and education. The decrease in our country's attention to education contributed to the decline of the index.
In 2018, Mongolia spent 6.17% of its GDP on education. It was ranked in the top 20 in the world. But in 2021, the rate dropped to 4.94% and the country fell to 34th place. GDP was reduced by 1.23%, which is the worst indicator in the world. The GDP of Mongolia in 2021 was USD 15.3 billion.
The countries that reduced the same education funding as us are Bhutan, Zambia, Eswatini and Uzbekistan.
Lowering education funding is related to the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2019. Because the global economy has been disrupted since the pandemic. However, the figures show that the authorities' decision to reduce investment in important sectors was not a good decision.
In particular, in 2017-2021, the quality of the decisions and regulations made by the government of our country, or "Regulatory Quality" index, deteriorated by 0.089, and as a result, the efficiency of the government's activities (Government effectiveness index), which were originally planned to be excluded, decreased by 0.2 index, according to the World Bank.
Lowering education funding is related to the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2019. Because the global economy has been disrupted since the pandemic. However, the figures show that the authorities' decision to reduce investment in important sectors was not a good decision.
In particular, in 2017-2021, the quality of the decisions and regulations made by the government of our country, or "Regulatory Quality" index, deteriorated by 0.089, and as a result, the efficiency of the government's activities (Government effectiveness index), which were originally planned to be excluded, decreased by 0.2 index, according to the World Bank.
Wrong decisions of the authorities reduce the confidence of the citizens to rely on the government and administration, and this leads to political instability.
According to the World Bank's political stability survey, our country ranked behind Denmark and Slovakia with a score of 0.82 in 2017, but it dropped to 0.65 points, leveling with South Korea and the UAE, in 2021. In 2017, South Korea, which had the same score, had 0.29 points and managed to improve by 0.4 index, while Mongolia decreased by 0.2 index.
Also the research shows that the control and regulation of corruption weakens with political instability. Corruption control in Mongolia weakened by 0.08 index in the same years and became the same as Nepal, El Salvador and Nigeria.
Wrong decisions of the authorities reduce the confidence of the citizens to rely on the government and administration, and this leads to political instability.
According to the World Bank's political stability survey, our country ranked behind Denmark and Slovakia with a score of 0.82 in 2017, but it dropped to 0.65 points, leveling with South Korea and the UAE, in 2021. In 2017, South Korea, which had the same score, had 0.29 points and managed to improve by 0.4 index, while Mongolia decreased by 0.2 index.
Also the research shows that the control and regulation of corruption weakens with political instability. Corruption control in Mongolia weakened by 0.08 index in the same years and became the same as Nepal, El Salvador and Nigeria.
"Regulatory quality" is the most fallen among the above three indicators that define the government's activities. When determining the index, government policies that support the private sector and their implementation are taken into account.
This fall is because of the reduction of Financial freedom score in Mongolia. In 2018-2021, Mongolia leads the list of the countries that have decreased financial freedom.
Financial freedom is the basic right of every individual to manage his own property. In other words, people are free to work, produce, consume and invest as they wish.
According to a study by the "Heritage Foundation", a research organization based in the United States, financial freedom in Mongolia has decreased from 100 to 60 in 2018 and to 50 in 2021. A decrease of 10 indexes is the worst indicator in the world, and countries such as South Korea (70-60), Estonia (80-70), and Malta (60-50) also decreased by 10 indexes.
"Regulatory quality" is the most fallen among the above three indicators that define the government's activities. When determining the index, government policies that support the private sector and their implementation are taken into account.
This fall is because of the reduction of Financial freedom score in Mongolia. In 2018-2021, Mongolia leads the list of the countries that have decreased financial freedom.
Financial freedom is the basic right of every individual to manage his own property. In other words, people are free to work, produce, consume and invest as they wish.
According to a study by the "Heritage Foundation", a research organization based in the United States, financial freedom in Mongolia has decreased from 100 to 60 in 2018 and to 50 in 2021. A decrease of 10 indexes is the worst indicator in the world, and countries such as South Korea (70-60), Estonia (80-70), and Malta (60-50) also decreased by 10 indexes.
During this period, the economic growth of Mongolia decreased by a high percentage. According to the World Bank's 2018 survey, the economic growth calculated by the real income of citizens decreased from 7.74 to 1.42 in 2022. Thus, the index decreased by 6.32, which is the 8th lowest in the world.
Annual GDP growth decreased by 0.9 index between 2018 and 2021, and GDP per capita in (PPP) decreased by USD 647.
During this period, the economic growth of Mongolia decreased by a high percentage. According to the World Bank's 2018 survey, the economic growth calculated by the real income of citizens decreased from 7.74 to 1.42 in 2022. Thus, the index decreased by 6.32, which is the 8th lowest in the world.
Annual GDP growth decreased by 0.9 index between 2018 and 2021, and GDP per capita in (PPP) decreased by USD 647.
Above-mentioned correlational data is used in determining happiness and well-being of society. Countries are trying to build a strong economy and good governance by creating basic social needs and proper communication conditions in order to create a happy society.
Above-mentioned correlational data is used in determining happiness and well-being of society. Countries are trying to build a strong economy and good governance by creating basic social needs and proper communication conditions in order to create a happy society.
