'Happiness and Well-being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm' UN Conference, New York, April 2012

The conference was convened by Bhutan, which tops Asia in the first World Happiness Report. The tiny Himalayan nation convened the meeting seeking to develop a new economic model based on principles of happiness and well-being. The report also listed a number of practical suggestions for governments to promote happiness among their citizens, including helping people meet their basic needs, reinforcing social systems, implementing active labour policies, improving mental health services, promoting compassion, altruism and honesty, and helping the public resist hyper-commercialism.