They don't allow visitors, those who do visit pay roughly $200 USD equivalent fines per day and $3,000 per night minimum for lodging. They didn't allow any immigration for a long time and now allow very very few. While they were famously extremely poor several decades ago, they've been trying hard to reduce the number of people in extreme poverty, two decades ago it was more than 2 in 10 then down to 1 in 10, but many still remain in poverty by the nation's own definition. An average Bhutan citizen could work their entire lives and not be able to afford a stay at one of their own resorts, or leave the country, nor would they be able to adapt to modern life outside of Bhutan because they lack education. The richest resident of Bhutan has a net worth of over 30 Billion Nu, which is something like 353 Million USD, made by developing roads (with public funds).

But I guess they might be happy in an ignorance is bliss sort of way, even if they live like medieval peasants.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Well of course they’re poor, they put a higher value on the happiness of their population than on their capital generation. The country can only sustainably support so many people, so they can’t let a large number of people immigrate unless they want to sacrifice their wildlife or impose reproduction limits on residents (directly or through reduced support for families), both of which would be fucked up.

I didn’t realize they had zero billionaires though, now I’m even more impressed by them!

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I just told you they live hungry, uneducated, and basically serve to enrich a small group of elites and your response was "wow, that could be me!"

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You asked for a country that doesn’t prioritize wealth creation and you don’t like the one given because they’re poor. I don’t know what you want, but now it seems like you’re looking for a country that’s just wealthy by happenstance, which I don’t think can exist in a world dominated by trade and capitalism.

Bhutan prioritizes happiness over wealth. Therefore, the people living there are not especially wealthy on a global scale, given that most other countries prioritize wealth.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I outlined very very very clearly, with no room to deny, Bhutan is built in a way that enriches a few, and serves the extremely wealthy from around the world, while many suffer.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

I don’t think we’re having the same conversation, because I took very different things away from your comment. That’s okay, we are not the same, as noted. I’ll leave it here.