How each model solves the same problems
Instead of “democracy versus anarchism”, compare the concrete ways collective problems get solved.
| Question | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How are decisions made? | A constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament since 2008; GNH is a guiding principle (Art. 9) and a policy lens, not a separate decision body. | A stratified random sample of 523 voters deliberated in moderated groups and plenaries and answered questionnaires before and after; no decisions were taken.Sortition / citizens' assembly | Each listed body sets its own well-being objectives and steps; the Welsh Ministers publish national indicators and a future trends report after each election. | |
| How are conflicts resolved? | GNH Commission screening of draft policies was advisory, not a veto (GNH Centre Bhutan); the Commission was dissolved in 2022. | Balanced briefing materials, trained neutral moderators and competing experts structured disagreement. | The Commissioner may review a body and recommend; the body must take reasonable steps to follow or publish reasons (s 22). The Auditor General examines application of the principle. | |
| How are public goods funded? | Surveys track nine domains: psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity, governance, community vitality, ecology and living standards. | Privately funded; produced published results, media coverage and a peer-reviewed study. | Covers the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, health boards, national park authorities and other listed bodies; public services boards plan locally. | |
| How is AI used? | No documented AI role. | No AI role. | No documented AI role. | |
| What are the main risks? | Vague concept open to selective use; self-reported survey data; limited evidence that GNH changes decisions; critics cite minority exclusion.CLM-0292 | Self-selection into attendance; artificial setting; analysis by the method's designers; no institutional uptake. | Soft 'follow or explain' enforcement; procedural compliance; difficulty measuring long-term and preventative benefits. |
This illustrates differences in design; it is not a universal claim about outcomes. Each cell links to mechanisms and the claims behind them.