Happiness Index hits a 10-month low

Bangkok Post
Sunday November 05, 2006, BREAKING NEWSs

Severe flood and rising inflation have impacted Thailand's Gross Domestic Happiness Index, conducted by the Abac Poll, as during October it fell to its lowest level since the beginning of 2006.

Noppadol Kannikar, director of Assumption University's Abac Poll, said that a survey was conducted among 4,520 Thais and 431 foreigners in 21 provinces between October 29 and November 4. It was found that the Gross Domestic Happiness Index among Thais plunged to 4.86 in October from 6.30 points in September, its lowest level in the past 10 months.

The chief reasons behind the decline were attributed to severe floods in a number of provinces and the sharp rise in the price of consumer goods.

On the part of foreigners living in Thailand, the Index also declined to 6.79 points in October from 7.23 points in September, according to the survey. The slight decline was due to foreigners' happiness towards Thai culture and festivities, and unity among Thais.

The survey also found that the Gross Domestic Happiness Index as interpreted on a regional basis, showed that the index for southerners improved and ranked first with 6.35 out of 10 points followed by those living in the Central region with 6.11 points, 5.74 points for those living in the northeast, 5.56 points for northerners and 5.35 points for Bangkok.

Among the positive factors which had boosted the Index were attributed to the public following the sufficiency economy principle, initiated by King Bhumibol Adulayadej, an easing in political tensions and more people having confidence in the interim government which they believed would be honest and able to improve quality of life. (TNA)