In rural Issan the per capita income is ~ US $2,000 per year or 5,800 thb per month. Isaan people survive on that little amount. 5,800 thb amounts to only ~190 baht per day.
That is it, 190 thb per day to feed the family and take care of all monthly bills.
That is a very paltry amount of money, yet you rarely see anyone complaining.
Isaan people accept their lot in life and march on day after day.
The lack of money could be an attributing factor to alcoholism?
Work hard at manual labor, drink, sleep.
I think westerners could never survive like this way of life in rural Isaan.
Supporting local businesses, buying their food at the markets, hiring for odd jobs around the house.
We can all make a difference, if we understand the issue of low income and try to help out.