Octa-Cluster: Different Perspectives on Quality of Life in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand’s gross domestic product per capita is higher than many of its neighboring countries, however, the quality of life in Thailand varies tremendously as wealth is concentrated among the rich. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. K-Means clustering combined with a recent cluster validity index is used to split respondents into eight groups with similar behavior in each group. Extreme Gradient Boosting is then utilized to analyze important factors that affect quality of life. One-hundred and twenty in-depth interviews are then used to highlight how individuals view the quality of life in Thailand. This study has a significant impact as policymakers can utilize our models to improve the quality of life for Thai residents in each category.