Kingdom of Bhutan Human Development Public Expenditure Review
2013
Nagpal, Somil | Opper, Susan
Bhutan is situated between the Tibetan Plateau in the North and Indian plains in the south. The development philosophy in Bhutan is embedded in the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that, as a public policy strategy, seeks to address a more meaningful purpose of development that goes beyond the fulfillment of material satisfaction. The concept is grounded in the four pillars of development; socio-economic, environment, culture, and good governance. Bhutan s record on growth and development has made it a top performer in the South Asian region. The average annual growth rate of GDP over 1980-2010 in country was more than 7.6 percent, one of the highest in the South Asian sub-continent (SAS). Bhutan, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of about US$2,000, is now classified as a lower-middle income country. However, one of the most notable features about Bhutan s macro economy is its lack of diversification, dependence on and exposure to external developments, and the high levels of year-to-year volatility in its economic growth. Public Expenditure Review (PER) begins with an overview of the macro-economic context (chapter two) and public sector management (chapter three) in Bhutan. This is followed by an analytical summary of achievements to date in the health and education sectors (chapters four and five). The PER concludes (chapter six) with policy options and recommendations which are intended to spur discussion and analysis among policy-makers in Bhutan as they look into different possibilities to increase fiscal space in domestic resources while enhancing the quality of expenditures and improving outcomes in the health and education systems.
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