Attitude of People in Three Southernmost Provinces toward the Application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Living under the Present Socio-Economic Situation

Abstract

The knowledge, understanding and attitude of people toward the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy for life are important factors for sustainable living in the present socio-economic situation. Thus, the first objective of this present work was to explore the knowledge, understanding and attitude of the people in the three southernmost provinces towards the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy for life in the context of the present socio-economic situation. The second objective was to find the relationship between the attitude towards the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy and the respondents’ demographic differences, and between their attitude and knowledge/understanding of the sufficiency economy levels. The participants in this study were 400 people, of which 138 are from Patani, 105 from Yala, and 157 from Narathiwat. The results of this research showed that the understanding of the sufficiency economy level was at a high level. A statistical analysis showed that the attitude towards the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy was at an average of 4.34 + 0.63, which is considered good. The study also revealed that the attitude towards the application of this philosophy varied with occupation and the understanding of the sufficiency economy levels (p<0.05). Policies to enhance a good attitude of the people in the three southernmost provinces towards the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy, should take into primary consideration occupations as well as the understanding of the sufficiency economy.