Two forms of community entrepreneurship in Finland

Are there differences between Finnish and Sámi reindeer husbandry entrepreneurs

Bibliographic Data

ID5840927
AuthorsLeo-Paul Dana (0000-0002-0806-1911, EM Strasbourg Business School, corresponding author), Ivan Light (0000-0001-9832-3008, University of California, Los Angeles)
Year2011
Volume23
Issue5-6
Pages331-352
Publication date2011-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEntrepreneurship and Regional Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0898-5626 • E-ISSN: 1464-5114
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08985626.2011.580163
OpenAlexW1980468106
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited56

Every reindeer herder in Finland belongs to one of 56 co-operatives, each known as a paliskunta. In addition, some reindeer owners herd using the folkloric siida model of co-operation. Content analysis of interviews conducted with reindeer herders - referred to as reindeer husbandry entrepreneurs, by the Reindeer Herders' Association - from two ethnic communities in Finland, reveals that respondents who identified themselves as ethnic Finns viewed their self-employment as an individualistic form of entrepreneurship and they focused their discussion on matters related to financial capital and profit. In contrast, Sámi respondents claimed that a significant causal variable behind their herding was maintenance of a cultural tradition and not necessarily limited to the maximization of financial profits. Sámi respondents spoke much about their cooperative siida (a fluid, informal grouping of herders who voluntarily co-operate), and the social capital it involved; and about reindeer herding skills that are acquired on the job, i.e. human capital; and also about aptitudes, beliefs, customs, habits, interests, lifestyle and round-up traditions, reflecting the fact that considerable cultural capital is passed from adults to children in the course of primary socialization. A consequence of family participation in various aspects of community-based reindeer herding is that Sámi children learn the occupation from a young age

Animal husbandry · Profit maximization · Socialization · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Social Capital and Networks

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