Analys av den samiska renskötselns ekonomiska tillpassning. Renen, intäktskälla eller kulturfäste?

The aim of this partial study is to analyse how the economies of different Sami reindeer management households are structured, and how the adaptation i s structured if profit maximation is a goal. Earlie r research demonstrates that different regions provides variou s terms. Consequently there exists a different econ omic structure among different households. Based on a se lection of households from districts /villages from a range of geographical locations, management patterns, and re gion size, different economic structures are search ed for. Households with similar economic structures are gro uped in categories. The standard deviation confirms whether the grouping in categories. Sami Reindeer Management in Norway and Sweden has during the period from 1992/93 to 2002/03 provided recognized slaughterhouses with an even quantum of meat supply. That indic ates that it probably is the same set of factors that in fluence the slaughter quantities of both countries. The relation- ship between the stock value of reindeer and the co mmercial value of reindeer meat, with in each house hold, suggests whether there is an accumulation in herd s ize and its magnitude. The herd increment depends o n the competitive situation between the households in the district/village. As a single household cannot inf luence wholesale price of reindeer meat, the sales quantum is the single factor that can influence total sale s. The efforts to increase herd size, due to the competitive situa tion, prevent the household from a maximum slaughter quan- tum, which thereby reduce the returns from reindeer management. Common factors for the different struc tures are sought for. The indication is that nether sale price of reindeer meat or line of politics influenc e sales quantum. The Sami reindeer herding seams to be a way of life were the size of the reindeer herd is in focus.