Bayesian nonparametric covariate driven clustering Un modello bayesiano nonparametrico per clustering in presenza di covariate

In this paper we introduce a Bayesian model for clustering individuals with covariates. This model combines the joint distribution of data in the sample, given the parameter and covariates, with a prior for this parameter. Here, the partition of the sample subjects is the parameter, and the prior we assume encourages two subjects to co-cluster when they have similar covariates. Cluster estimates are based on the posterior distribution of the random partition, given data. As an application, we fit our model to a dataset on gap times between recurrent blood donations from AVIS (Italian Volunteer Blood-donors Association), the largest provider of blood donations in Italy.