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Internet has been available for the public during the past thirty years, and is perceived as having radically changed the terms of LGBTQ peoples’ possibilities of connecting with one and other, especially for LGBTQ people in rural spaces. With a queer phenomenological approach, the overall aim of the thesis is to analyze how people come to find their way in life from a non-heterosexual position. The aim is more precisely to study LGBTQ peoples’ use of social media and how this relates to queer orientations. The main material consists of fifteen interviews with LGBTQ people from the north of Sweden, focusing on the usage of digital environments and its importance for the informants’ queer orientations. The material also includes online observations from Facebook and Qruiser, as well as observations of two rural and queer themed Facebook groups and two rotating curated Instagram accounts. From one of these Instagram accounts, the entries of three informants living in the north of Sweden were collected. The material also includes press material and marketing of the app Grindr available at Grindr.com, App Store and the related site INTO. In the thesis, questions about when experiences are made, and where they are made are of importance. Particular interest is thus focused on time and geographical location, mainly focusing on the north of Sweden. With inspiration from actor network theory, it is taken into account how digital materiality, together with time and space, co-create conditions for use of social media and the understanding of these types of digital spaces. The thesis is centered around themes that came forth in the material: significance of digital environments in LGBTQ peoples’ lives, problems and possibilities in relation to openness and visibility, and how social media platforms are used to bring about change and re-negotiate notions of geographical space and sexual orientation. The thesis shows the significance of digital, geographical, human as well as no

Internet has been available for the public during the past thirty years, and is perceived as having radically changed the terms of LGBTQ peoples’ possibilities of connecting with one and other, especially for LGBTQ people in rural spaces. With a queer phenomenological approach, the overall aim of the thesis is to analyze how people come to find their way in life from a non-heterosexual position. The aim is more precisely to study LGBTQ peoples’ use of social media and how this relates to queer orientations. The main material consists of fifteen interviews with LGBTQ people from the north of Sweden, focusing on the usage of digital environments and its importance for the informants’ queer orientations. The material also includes online observations from Facebook and Qruiser, as well as observations of two rural and queer themed Facebook groups and two rotating curated Instagram accounts. From one of these Instagram accounts, the entries of three informants living in the north of Sweden were collected. The material also includes press material and marketing of the app Grindr available at Grindr.com, App Store and the related site INTO. In the thesis, questions about when experiences are made, and where they are made are of importance. Particular interest is thus focused on time and geographical location, mainly focusing on the north of Sweden. With inspiration from actor network theory, it is taken into account how digital materiality, together with time and space, co-create conditions for use of social media and the understanding of these types of digital spaces. The thesis is centered around themes that came forth in the material: significance of digital environments in LGBTQ peoples’ lives, problems and possibilities in relation to openness and visibility, and how social media platforms are used to bring about change and re-negotiate notions of geographical space and sexual orientation. The thesis shows the significance of digital, geographical, human as well as no

Internet has been available for the public during the past thirty years, and is perceived as having radically changed the terms of LGBTQ peoples’ possibilities of connecting with one and other, especially for LGBTQ people in rural spaces. With a queer phenomenological approach, the overall aim of the thesis is to analyze how people come to find their way in life from a non-heterosexual position. The aim is more precisely to study LGBTQ peoples’ use of social media and how this relates to queer orientations. The main material consists of fifteen interviews with LGBTQ people from the north of Sweden, focusing on the usage of digital environments and its importance for the informants’ queer orientations. The material also includes online observations from Facebook and Qruiser, as well as observations of two rural and queer themed Facebook groups and two rotating curated Instagram accounts. From one of these Instagram accounts, the entries of three informants living in the north of Sweden were collected. The material also includes press material and marketing of the app Grindr available at Grindr.com, App Store and the related site INTO. In the thesis, questions about when experiences are made, and where they are made are of importance. Particular interest is thus focused on time and geographical location, mainly focusing on the north of Sweden. With inspiration from actor network theory, it is taken into account how digital materiality, together with time and space, co-create conditions for use of social media and the understanding of these types of digital spaces. The thesis is centered around themes that came forth in the material: significance of digital environments in LGBTQ peoples’ lives, problems and possibilities in relation to openness and visibility, and how social media platforms are used to bring about change and re-negotiate notions of geographical space and sexual orientation. The thesis shows the significance of digital, geographical, human as well as no

Internet has been available for the public during the past thirty years, and is perceived as having radically changed the terms of LGBTQ peoples’ possibilities of connecting with one and other, especially for LGBTQ people in rural spaces. With a queer phenomenological approach, the overall aim of the thesis is to analyze how people come to find their way in life from a non-heterosexual position. The aim is more precisely to study LGBTQ peoples’ use of social media and how this relates to queer orientations. The main material consists of fifteen interviews with LGBTQ people from the north of Sweden, focusing on the usage of digital environments and its importance for the informants’ queer orientations. The material also includes online observations from Facebook and Qruiser, as well as observations of two rural and queer themed Facebook groups and two rotating curated Instagram accounts. From one of these Instagram accounts, the entries of three informants living in the north of Sweden were collected. The material also includes press material and marketing of the app Grindr available at Grindr.com, App Store and the related site INTO. In the thesis, questions about when experiences are made, and where they are made are of importance. Particular interest is thus focused on time and geographical location, mainly focusing on the north of Sweden. With inspiration from actor network theory, it is taken into account how digital materiality, together with time and space, co-create conditions for use of social media and the understanding of these types of digital spaces. The thesis is centered around themes that came forth in the material: significance of digital environments in LGBTQ peoples’ lives, problems and possibilities in relation to openness and visibility, and how social media platforms are used to bring about change and re-negotiate notions of geographical space and sexual orientation. The thesis shows the significance of digital, geographical, human as well as no

Internet has been available for the public during the past thirty years, and is perceived as having radically changed the terms of LGBTQ peoples’ possibilities of connecting with one and other, especially for LGBTQ people in rural spaces. With a queer phenomenological approach, the overall aim of the thesis is to analyze how people come to find their way in life from a non-heterosexual position. The aim is more precisely to study LGBTQ peoples’ use of social media and how this relates to queer orientations. The main material consists of fifteen interviews with LGBTQ people from the north of Sweden, focusing on the usage of digital environments and its importance for the informants’ queer orientations. The material also includes online observations from Facebook and Qruiser, as well as observations of two rural and queer themed Facebook groups and two rotating curated Instagram accounts. From one of these Instagram accounts, the entries of three informants living in the north of Sweden were collected. The material also includes press material and marketing of the app Grindr available at Grindr.com, App Store and the related site INTO. In the thesis, questions about when experiences are made, and where they are made are of importance. Particular interest is thus focused on time and geographical location, mainly focusing on the north of Sweden. With inspiration from actor network theory, it is taken into account how digital materiality, together with time and space, co-create conditions for use of social media and the understanding of these types of digital spaces. The thesis is centered around themes that came forth in the material: significance of digital environments in LGBTQ peoples’ lives, problems and possibilities in relation to openness and visibility, and how social media platforms are used to bring about change and re-negotiate notions of geographical space and sexual orientation. The thesis shows the significance of digital, geographical, human as well as no

Denna studie analyserar hur frågan om fördelning och placering av räntan från de norrländska naturresurserna uppkommit, gestaltats och utvecklats av norrländska företrädare och i den nationella politiken gentemot Norrland under perioden 1850-2016. Utgångspunkten för analysen är att Norrlands utveckling under perioden följer ett mönster som visar stora likheter med vad andra naturresursrika regioner i världen upplevt. Samtidigt har det norrländska förloppet även präglats av unika aspekter relaterade till den svenska välfärdsstatens utveckling samt den svenska ekonomins position i internationell ekonomi under 1900-talet. Inledningsvis visar vi hur Norrland från 1850 fram till omkring 1940 följde ett mönster för en naturresursrik region i enlighet med vad nordamerikanska ekonomisk-historiker som Douglass C. North och Harold A. Innis beskriver. Naturresursexporten expanderade kraftigt men produktionen kom till följd av regionens alltför svaga strukturer för finansiering och ägande att hamna under exogena aktörer. Genom arbetet med att attrahera investeringar till Norrland kom regionens politiska aktörer däremot att bli medvetna om hur politisk mobilisering och organisering kunde få nationalstatsnivån att tilldela Norrland olika offentliga resurser. Perioden från 1940 till 1990 kännetecknades sedan av en rent-seeking-strategi vars mål var att indirekt återföra delar av den ”förlorade” naturresursräntan till Norrland genom agerande inom det politiska systemet. Norrlandskommitténs betänkande från 1949 satte dagordningen för denna strategi. Ett avgörande argument för en expansion av den statliga Norrlandspolitiken i storlek och omfattning från 1940-talet blev att regionen förtjänade kompensation för den naturresursränta som dittills ofta tillfallit exogena aktörer. Den politiska strategin, där naturresursräntan kopplas samman med offentliga utgifter, blev med tiden så dominerande att den nästan helt trängt undan alternativa utvecklingsstrategier. Det blir särskilt tydligt

Denna studie analyserar hur frågan om fördelning och placering av räntan från de norrländska naturresurserna uppkommit, gestaltats och utvecklats av norrländska företrädare och i den nationella politiken gentemot Norrland under perioden 1850-2016. Utgångspunkten för analysen är att Norrlands utveckling under perioden följer ett mönster som visar stora likheter med vad andra naturresursrika regioner i världen upplevt. Samtidigt har det norrländska förloppet även präglats av unika aspekter relaterade till den svenska välfärdsstatens utveckling samt den svenska ekonomins position i internationell ekonomi under 1900-talet. Inledningsvis visar vi hur Norrland från 1850 fram till omkring 1940 följde ett mönster för en naturresursrik region i enlighet med vad nordamerikanska ekonomisk-historiker som Douglass C. North och Harold A. Innis beskriver. Naturresursexporten expanderade kraftigt men produktionen kom till följd av regionens alltför svaga strukturer för finansiering och ägande att hamna under exogena aktörer. Genom arbetet med att attrahera investeringar till Norrland kom regionens politiska aktörer däremot att bli medvetna om hur politisk mobilisering och organisering kunde få nationalstatsnivån att tilldela Norrland olika offentliga resurser. Perioden från 1940 till 1990 kännetecknades sedan av en rent-seeking-strategi vars mål var att indirekt återföra delar av den ”förlorade” naturresursräntan till Norrland genom agerande inom det politiska systemet. Norrlandskommitténs betänkande från 1949 satte dagordningen för denna strategi. Ett avgörande argument för en expansion av den statliga Norrlandspolitiken i storlek och omfattning från 1940-talet blev att regionen förtjänade kompensation för den naturresursränta som dittills ofta tillfallit exogena aktörer. Den politiska strategin, där naturresursräntan kopplas samman med offentliga utgifter, blev med tiden så dominerande att den nästan helt trängt undan alternativa utvecklingsstrategier. Det blir särskilt tydligt

Denna studie analyserar hur frågan om fördelning och placering av räntan från de norrländska naturresurserna uppkommit, gestaltats och utvecklats av norrländska företrädare och i den nationella politiken gentemot Norrland under perioden 1850-2016. Utgångspunkten för analysen är att Norrlands utveckling under perioden följer ett mönster som visar stora likheter med vad andra naturresursrika regioner i världen upplevt. Samtidigt har det norrländska förloppet även präglats av unika aspekter relaterade till den svenska välfärdsstatens utveckling samt den svenska ekonomins position i internationell ekonomi under 1900-talet. Inledningsvis visar vi hur Norrland från 1850 fram till omkring 1940 följde ett mönster för en naturresursrik region i enlighet med vad nordamerikanska ekonomisk-historiker som Douglass C. North och Harold A. Innis beskriver. Naturresursexporten expanderade kraftigt men produktionen kom till följd av regionens alltför svaga strukturer för finansiering och ägande att hamna under exogena aktörer. Genom arbetet med att attrahera investeringar till Norrland kom regionens politiska aktörer däremot att bli medvetna om hur politisk mobilisering och organisering kunde få nationalstatsnivån att tilldela Norrland olika offentliga resurser. Perioden från 1940 till 1990 kännetecknades sedan av en rent-seeking-strategi vars mål var att indirekt återföra delar av den ”förlorade” naturresursräntan till Norrland genom agerande inom det politiska systemet. Norrlandskommitténs betänkande från 1949 satte dagordningen för denna strategi. Ett avgörande argument för en expansion av den statliga Norrlandspolitiken i storlek och omfattning från 1940-talet blev att regionen förtjänade kompensation för den naturresursränta som dittills ofta tillfallit exogena aktörer. Den politiska strategin, där naturresursräntan kopplas samman med offentliga utgifter, blev med tiden så dominerande att den nästan helt trängt undan alternativa utvecklingsstrategier. Det blir särskilt tydligt

Denna studie analyserar hur frågan om fördelning och placering av räntan från de norrländska naturresurserna uppkommit, gestaltats och utvecklats av norrländska företrädare och i den nationella politiken gentemot Norrland under perioden 1850-2016. Utgångspunkten för analysen är att Norrlands utveckling under perioden följer ett mönster som visar stora likheter med vad andra naturresursrika regioner i världen upplevt. Samtidigt har det norrländska förloppet även präglats av unika aspekter relaterade till den svenska välfärdsstatens utveckling samt den svenska ekonomins position i internationell ekonomi under 1900-talet. Inledningsvis visar vi hur Norrland från 1850 fram till omkring 1940 följde ett mönster för en naturresursrik region i enlighet med vad nordamerikanska ekonomisk-historiker som Douglass C. North och Harold A. Innis beskriver. Naturresursexporten expanderade kraftigt men produktionen kom till följd av regionens alltför svaga strukturer för finansiering och ägande att hamna under exogena aktörer. Genom arbetet med att attrahera investeringar till Norrland kom regionens politiska aktörer däremot att bli medvetna om hur politisk mobilisering och organisering kunde få nationalstatsnivån att tilldela Norrland olika offentliga resurser. Perioden från 1940 till 1990 kännetecknades sedan av en rent-seeking-strategi vars mål var att indirekt återföra delar av den ”förlorade” naturresursräntan till Norrland genom agerande inom det politiska systemet. Norrlandskommitténs betänkande från 1949 satte dagordningen för denna strategi. Ett avgörande argument för en expansion av den statliga Norrlandspolitiken i storlek och omfattning från 1940-talet blev att regionen förtjänade kompensation för den naturresursränta som dittills ofta tillfallit exogena aktörer. Den politiska strategin, där naturresursräntan kopplas samman med offentliga utgifter, blev med tiden så dominerande att den nästan helt trängt undan alternativa utvecklingsstrategier. Det blir särskilt tydligt

Denna studie analyserar hur frågan om fördelning och placering av räntan från de norrländska naturresurserna uppkommit, gestaltats och utvecklats av norrländska företrädare och i den nationella politiken gentemot Norrland under perioden 1850-2016. Utgångspunkten för analysen är att Norrlands utveckling under perioden följer ett mönster som visar stora likheter med vad andra naturresursrika regioner i världen upplevt. Samtidigt har det norrländska förloppet även präglats av unika aspekter relaterade till den svenska välfärdsstatens utveckling samt den svenska ekonomins position i internationell ekonomi under 1900-talet. Inledningsvis visar vi hur Norrland från 1850 fram till omkring 1940 följde ett mönster för en naturresursrik region i enlighet med vad nordamerikanska ekonomisk-historiker som Douglass C. North och Harold A. Innis beskriver. Naturresursexporten expanderade kraftigt men produktionen kom till följd av regionens alltför svaga strukturer för finansiering och ägande att hamna under exogena aktörer. Genom arbetet med att attrahera investeringar till Norrland kom regionens politiska aktörer däremot att bli medvetna om hur politisk mobilisering och organisering kunde få nationalstatsnivån att tilldela Norrland olika offentliga resurser. Perioden från 1940 till 1990 kännetecknades sedan av en rent-seeking-strategi vars mål var att indirekt återföra delar av den ”förlorade” naturresursräntan till Norrland genom agerande inom det politiska systemet. Norrlandskommitténs betänkande från 1949 satte dagordningen för denna strategi. Ett avgörande argument för en expansion av den statliga Norrlandspolitiken i storlek och omfattning från 1940-talet blev att regionen förtjänade kompensation för den naturresursränta som dittills ofta tillfallit exogena aktörer. Den politiska strategin, där naturresursräntan kopplas samman med offentliga utgifter, blev med tiden så dominerande att den nästan helt trängt undan alternativa utvecklingsstrategier. Det blir särskilt tydligt

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

Det kommunalekonomiska utjämningssystemet (KUS) för kommuner och landsting har diskuterats ofta och intensivt, vilket illustreras av det stora antalet utredningar och debattartiklar i ämnet. Huvudsyftet med den här rapporten är att översiktligt beskriva och analysera utfallet i KUS. Särskilt fokus läggs på Västerbottens län, och till viss del på de övriga tre nordliga länen samt deras relation till övriga Sverige i systemet. Förhoppningen är att kasta ljus på vad systemet betyder för kommuners och landstings ekonomier, samtidigt som några kommentarer ges om hur Västerbotten kan betrakta systemet med målet att bli mer oberoende av det. Detta görs i huvudsak genom bearbetning av deskriptiv statistik och konstruktion av grafiska illustrationer. KUS upplevs ofta som mycket komplicerat och svårbegripligt, vilket förstärks av att systemet ofta är föremål för utredningar och förändringar. Större justeringar i utjämningssystemet har till exempel skett åren 1993, 1996 och 2005. Det kan förmodas att ytterligare förändringar kommer att behövas i takt med att samhället förändras. Utjämningskommittén gör för närvarande en översyn av det utjämningssystem som är i bruk sedan 2005. Systemets föränderlighet bidrar säkerligen till att det är svårt att sätta sig in i och debattera olika aspekter av systemet på ett konstruktivt och sakligt sätt. I rapporten studeras utjämningssystemet, med särskilt fokus på den del som kallas inkomstutjämning, i huvudsak utifrån de variabler som direkt bestämmer dess utfall. Kommunernas och landstingens utfall i inkomstutjämningssystemet bestäms av deras egen skattekraft, det vill säga skatteunderlaget per invånare, i relation till rikets skattekraft, den så kallade medelskattekraften. Det betyder att systemet i den här rapporten betraktas som givet och att indirekta faktorer som kan påverka en kommuns eller ett landstings utfall, såsom till exempel utbildningsnivå, migration och sysselsättningsgrad, inte beaktas. Som namnet antyder är KUS ett utjämnin, Rapporten har genomförts inom projektet ACANALYS med finansiering från EU:s strukturfonder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå, Skellefteå, Lycksele mfl kommuner, samt stöd av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

Det kommunalekonomiska utjämningssystemet (KUS) för kommuner och landsting har diskuterats ofta och intensivt, vilket illustreras av det stora antalet utredningar och debattartiklar i ämnet. Huvudsyftet med den här rapporten är att översiktligt beskriva och analysera utfallet i KUS. Särskilt fokus läggs på Västerbottens län, och till viss del på de övriga tre nordliga länen samt deras relation till övriga Sverige i systemet. Förhoppningen är att kasta ljus på vad systemet betyder för kommuners och landstings ekonomier, samtidigt som några kommentarer ges om hur Västerbotten kan betrakta systemet med målet att bli mer oberoende av det. Detta görs i huvudsak genom bearbetning av deskriptiv statistik och konstruktion av grafiska illustrationer. KUS upplevs ofta som mycket komplicerat och svårbegripligt, vilket förstärks av att systemet ofta är föremål för utredningar och förändringar. Större justeringar i utjämningssystemet har till exempel skett åren 1993, 1996 och 2005. Det kan förmodas att ytterligare förändringar kommer att behövas i takt med att samhället förändras. Utjämningskommittén gör för närvarande en översyn av det utjämningssystem som är i bruk sedan 2005. Systemets föränderlighet bidrar säkerligen till att det är svårt att sätta sig in i och debattera olika aspekter av systemet på ett konstruktivt och sakligt sätt. I rapporten studeras utjämningssystemet, med särskilt fokus på den del som kallas inkomstutjämning, i huvudsak utifrån de variabler som direkt bestämmer dess utfall. Kommunernas och landstingens utfall i inkomstutjämningssystemet bestäms av deras egen skattekraft, det vill säga skatteunderlaget per invånare, i relation till rikets skattekraft, den så kallade medelskattekraften. Det betyder att systemet i den här rapporten betraktas som givet och att indirekta faktorer som kan påverka en kommuns eller ett landstings utfall, såsom till exempel utbildningsnivå, migration och sysselsättningsgrad, inte beaktas. Som namnet antyder är KUS ett utjämnin, Rapporten har genomförts inom projektet ACANALYS med finansiering från EU:s strukturfonder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå, Skellefteå, Lycksele mfl kommuner, samt stöd av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

Det kommunalekonomiska utjämningssystemet (KUS) för kommuner och landsting har diskuterats ofta och intensivt, vilket illustreras av det stora antalet utredningar och debattartiklar i ämnet. Huvudsyftet med den här rapporten är att översiktligt beskriva och analysera utfallet i KUS. Särskilt fokus läggs på Västerbottens län, och till viss del på de övriga tre nordliga länen samt deras relation till övriga Sverige i systemet. Förhoppningen är att kasta ljus på vad systemet betyder för kommuners och landstings ekonomier, samtidigt som några kommentarer ges om hur Västerbotten kan betrakta systemet med målet att bli mer oberoende av det. Detta görs i huvudsak genom bearbetning av deskriptiv statistik och konstruktion av grafiska illustrationer. KUS upplevs ofta som mycket komplicerat och svårbegripligt, vilket förstärks av att systemet ofta är föremål för utredningar och förändringar. Större justeringar i utjämningssystemet har till exempel skett åren 1993, 1996 och 2005. Det kan förmodas att ytterligare förändringar kommer att behövas i takt med att samhället förändras. Utjämningskommittén gör för närvarande en översyn av det utjämningssystem som är i bruk sedan 2005. Systemets föränderlighet bidrar säkerligen till att det är svårt att sätta sig in i och debattera olika aspekter av systemet på ett konstruktivt och sakligt sätt. I rapporten studeras utjämningssystemet, med särskilt fokus på den del som kallas inkomstutjämning, i huvudsak utifrån de variabler som direkt bestämmer dess utfall. Kommunernas och landstingens utfall i inkomstutjämningssystemet bestäms av deras egen skattekraft, det vill säga skatteunderlaget per invånare, i relation till rikets skattekraft, den så kallade medelskattekraften. Det betyder att systemet i den här rapporten betraktas som givet och att indirekta faktorer som kan påverka en kommuns eller ett landstings utfall, såsom till exempel utbildningsnivå, migration och sysselsättningsgrad, inte beaktas. Som namnet antyder är KUS ett utjämnin, Rapporten har genomförts inom projektet ACANALYS med finansiering från EU:s strukturfonder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå, Skellefteå, Lycksele mfl kommuner, samt stöd av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

Det kommunalekonomiska utjämningssystemet (KUS) för kommuner och landsting har diskuterats ofta och intensivt, vilket illustreras av det stora antalet utredningar och debattartiklar i ämnet. Huvudsyftet med den här rapporten är att översiktligt beskriva och analysera utfallet i KUS. Särskilt fokus läggs på Västerbottens län, och till viss del på de övriga tre nordliga länen samt deras relation till övriga Sverige i systemet. Förhoppningen är att kasta ljus på vad systemet betyder för kommuners och landstings ekonomier, samtidigt som några kommentarer ges om hur Västerbotten kan betrakta systemet med målet att bli mer oberoende av det. Detta görs i huvudsak genom bearbetning av deskriptiv statistik och konstruktion av grafiska illustrationer. KUS upplevs ofta som mycket komplicerat och svårbegripligt, vilket förstärks av att systemet ofta är föremål för utredningar och förändringar. Större justeringar i utjämningssystemet har till exempel skett åren 1993, 1996 och 2005. Det kan förmodas att ytterligare förändringar kommer att behövas i takt med att samhället förändras. Utjämningskommittén gör för närvarande en översyn av det utjämningssystem som är i bruk sedan 2005. Systemets föränderlighet bidrar säkerligen till att det är svårt att sätta sig in i och debattera olika aspekter av systemet på ett konstruktivt och sakligt sätt. I rapporten studeras utjämningssystemet, med särskilt fokus på den del som kallas inkomstutjämning, i huvudsak utifrån de variabler som direkt bestämmer dess utfall. Kommunernas och landstingens utfall i inkomstutjämningssystemet bestäms av deras egen skattekraft, det vill säga skatteunderlaget per invånare, i relation till rikets skattekraft, den så kallade medelskattekraften. Det betyder att systemet i den här rapporten betraktas som givet och att indirekta faktorer som kan påverka en kommuns eller ett landstings utfall, såsom till exempel utbildningsnivå, migration och sysselsättningsgrad, inte beaktas. Som namnet antyder är KUS ett utjämnin, Rapporten har genomförts inom projektet ACANALYS med finansiering från EU:s strukturfonder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå, Skellefteå, Lycksele mfl kommuner, samt stöd av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

Det kommunalekonomiska utjämningssystemet (KUS) för kommuner och landsting har diskuterats ofta och intensivt, vilket illustreras av det stora antalet utredningar och debattartiklar i ämnet. Huvudsyftet med den här rapporten är att översiktligt beskriva och analysera utfallet i KUS. Särskilt fokus läggs på Västerbottens län, och till viss del på de övriga tre nordliga länen samt deras relation till övriga Sverige i systemet. Förhoppningen är att kasta ljus på vad systemet betyder för kommuners och landstings ekonomier, samtidigt som några kommentarer ges om hur Västerbotten kan betrakta systemet med målet att bli mer oberoende av det. Detta görs i huvudsak genom bearbetning av deskriptiv statistik och konstruktion av grafiska illustrationer. KUS upplevs ofta som mycket komplicerat och svårbegripligt, vilket förstärks av att systemet ofta är föremål för utredningar och förändringar. Större justeringar i utjämningssystemet har till exempel skett åren 1993, 1996 och 2005. Det kan förmodas att ytterligare förändringar kommer att behövas i takt med att samhället förändras. Utjämningskommittén gör för närvarande en översyn av det utjämningssystem som är i bruk sedan 2005. Systemets föränderlighet bidrar säkerligen till att det är svårt att sätta sig in i och debattera olika aspekter av systemet på ett konstruktivt och sakligt sätt. I rapporten studeras utjämningssystemet, med särskilt fokus på den del som kallas inkomstutjämning, i huvudsak utifrån de variabler som direkt bestämmer dess utfall. Kommunernas och landstingens utfall i inkomstutjämningssystemet bestäms av deras egen skattekraft, det vill säga skatteunderlaget per invånare, i relation till rikets skattekraft, den så kallade medelskattekraften. Det betyder att systemet i den här rapporten betraktas som givet och att indirekta faktorer som kan påverka en kommuns eller ett landstings utfall, såsom till exempel utbildningsnivå, migration och sysselsättningsgrad, inte beaktas. Som namnet antyder är KUS ett utjämnin, Rapporten har genomförts inom projektet ACANALYS med finansiering från EU:s strukturfonder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå, Skellefteå, Lycksele mfl kommuner, samt stöd av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

I föreliggande rapport diskuteras och analyseras Bruttoregionproduktens (BRP) historiska utveckling i Västerbotten och de övriga mest nordliga länen i Sverige (Jämtland, Västernorrland och Norrbotten). Det historiska perspektivet sträcker sig mellan åren 1968 till och med 2007. Syftet med den historiska analysen är att kunna studera de fyra nordligaste länens BRP-utveckling över tid, vilket bildar ett underlag för en mer nyanserad diskussion av den regionalekonomiska utvecklingen idag och i förhållande till andra regioner i Sverige. Studien inkluderar också perioder av ekonomiska svårigheter och omstruktureringar av produktion, där perspektivet möjliggör komparationer mellan regionernas utveckling samt trender. Rapporten fokuserar de fyra nordliga länens BRP-utvekling, där också övriga svenska regioner jämförs för att spegla trender och olika utvecklings- och tillväxtfaser i Västerbotten och Norrland. På detta sätt analyserar rapporten både utvecklingen sett till utvecklingen mellan de fyra nordligaste länen och Norrlandslänen sett som en enhet i jämförelse med andra regioner i Sverige. Resultaten av dessa analyser belyser skillnader mellan utvecklingen i de fyra nordligaste länen, där exempelvis Västerbotten och Norrbotten har haft en mer positiv utveckling BRP under den avslutande delen av perioden. Detta samtidigt som att rapporten visar på att Norrland 4 upplevt en relativt sämre utveckling i jämförelse med storstadsregionerna från och med 1990-talskrisen., Rapporten har genomförts inom ramen för projektet ACANALYS. ACANALYS bedrivs av CERUM, Umeå universitet och finansieras av EU:s strukturfoinder, Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens läns landsting, Umeå kommun, Skellefteå kommun och Lycksele kommun samt stöds av Företagarna i Västerbotten och Västerbottens handelskammare., ACANALYS

The aim of this thesis is to understand the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, with the specific aim to analyse the activities of regional interest groups in the Norrland region and government agents at different administrative levels at the key stages of the decision-making processes: initiation, drafting and decision-making. The thesis also explores how institutional factors at different administrative levels affected the agents that were involved at those stages of the decision-making processes. As navigation along the northern Swedish coast must negotiate winter conditions which causes ports to freeze over, the government ice-breaking service functions as an instrument to compensate the export firms in Norrland for these constrains. Year-round navigation in the north Swedish coastal waters was achieved through a series of decision-making processes that took place during the period from 1940 to 1975. These decision-making processes are important to study since ice-breaking was an integrated component of the expanding heavy basic industries in Norrland and thereby for the rapidly growing exports during the 1950s and 1960s. This period is the decisive point in the economic history of the Norrland region regarding how the natural resources should be exploited and how exports should be advanced. This study concludes that the decision-making processes were initiated by government agents at different administrative levels. Official investigatory commissions were set up at several occasions to deal with issues related to the government ice-breaker service by the ministries responsible for ice-breaker policy. It is also demonstrated that the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaker investments were initiated by the government boards that were responsible for the operation of the ice-breaker service. In this respect, the study concludes that the government activities during the initiation stages should not be confused as

The aim of this thesis is to understand the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, with the specific aim to analyse the activities of regional interest groups in the Norrland region and government agents at different administrative levels at the key stages of the decision-making processes: initiation, drafting and decision-making. The thesis also explores how institutional factors at different administrative levels affected the agents that were involved at those stages of the decision-making processes. As navigation along the northern Swedish coast must negotiate winter conditions which causes ports to freeze over, the government ice-breaking service functions as an instrument to compensate the export firms in Norrland for these constrains. Year-round navigation in the north Swedish coastal waters was achieved through a series of decision-making processes that took place during the period from 1940 to 1975. These decision-making processes are important to study since ice-breaking was an integrated component of the expanding heavy basic industries in Norrland and thereby for the rapidly growing exports during the 1950s and 1960s. This period is the decisive point in the economic history of the Norrland region regarding how the natural resources should be exploited and how exports should be advanced. This study concludes that the decision-making processes were initiated by government agents at different administrative levels. Official investigatory commissions were set up at several occasions to deal with issues related to the government ice-breaker service by the ministries responsible for ice-breaker policy. It is also demonstrated that the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaker investments were initiated by the government boards that were responsible for the operation of the ice-breaker service. In this respect, the study concludes that the government activities during the initiation stages should not be confused as

This dissertation deals with 199 gender related proverbs that were collected in northern Sweden and were used in an agrarian environment, approximately between the beginning of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The conceptions of gender which these proverbs convey also belong to the same time range and place. The aim of this dissertation is to find out which conceptions of gender that is conveyed by proverbs in an older agrarian environment in northern Sweden. In order to achieve this aim the following question is examined: What conceptions are found in the proverb material of the cultural category woman, the cultural category man and of the relationship between these categories? As a base for an interpretation of the proverbs, which are written in various Swedish dialects, a linguistic analysis is carried out. The interpretation is then formed through a concept that was developed by Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (1982); namely, base meaning. This concept relates to the shared meaning of a proverb by a group of people. The proverbs that include metaphors and similes are analyzed with a method that is developed from the cognitive linguistic theory of blending (Fauconnier & Turner 1996, 1998). The proverb material is sorted in three analytical categories, and presented in separate chapters: Chapter four, The Marriage Market (Äktenskapsmarknaden), chapter five: The Household (Hushållet) and chapter six, Sexuality (Sexualiteten). These categories are in turn divided into sub categories. One example of a salient conceptions of gender that is found in the category The Marriage Market is that the man chooses a woman, not the other way around. One example of a central conception in the category The Household is that the man earns money and supply other resources and the woman takes care of these resources. The significance of the conceptions of male and female sexuality is that they convey the difficulty in controlling a virulent male sexuality. The gender concept

This thesis explores a period in Northern Sweden when contacts between Sami and non-Sami became more frequent as the colonisation progressed. The investigated period is 1722-1895 and eight parishes in northern Sweden are under study. Both the northern as well as the southern Sami area are represented. The main purpose of the thesis is thus to see whether the cultural meeting between Sami and non-Sami affected the way people chose to make significant decisions. In this study these cultural meetings are represented by the way people married. To understand the consequences of cultural contacts, where individuals from different backgrounds meet, concepts developed within the field of acculturation theories are used. The marriage patterns among the inhabitants are viewed with regard to three key variables founded by Ruth Dixon, as these help to explain changes or continuations in the individuals’ marital behaviour. The southern Sami area seamed to be rather unaffected by the colonisation process, at least according to the marriage pattern. The analysis revealed limited economic openings for marriage as well as cemented marriage traditions, and these prevailed throughout the investigated period. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was evident that the northern Sami areas were significantly affected by the in-migrated newcomers. Even though the gender distribution in each parish seemed to matter, analysing the overall marriage pattern illuminated chiefly economic reasons for changes that occurred during the colonisation process. As the in-migration of non-Sami progressed, the age at first marriage increased particularly among Sami women. Furthermore, the results indicates that even though settled Sami probably interacted with non-Sami on a daily basis, and were integrated in their lifestyle, Sami settlers continuously estranged themselves from a complete assimilation and stuck to their Sami culture and traditions. Thus, language and cultural expressions seemed

This dissertation deals with 199 gender related proverbs that were collected in northern Sweden and were used in an agrarian environment, approximately between the beginning of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The conceptions of gender which these proverbs convey also belong to the same time range and place. The aim of this dissertation is to find out which conceptions of gender that is conveyed by proverbs in an older agrarian environment in northern Sweden. In order to achieve this aim the following question is examined: What conceptions are found in the proverb material of the cultural category woman, the cultural category man and of the relationship between these categories? As a base for an interpretation of the proverbs, which are written in various Swedish dialects, a linguistic analysis is carried out. The interpretation is then formed through a concept that was developed by Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (1982); namely, base meaning. This concept relates to the shared meaning of a proverb by a group of people. The proverbs that include metaphors and similes are analyzed with a method that is developed from the cognitive linguistic theory of blending (Fauconnier & Turner 1996, 1998). The proverb material is sorted in three analytical categories, and presented in separate chapters: Chapter four, The Marriage Market (Äktenskapsmarknaden), chapter five: The Household (Hushållet) and chapter six, Sexuality (Sexualiteten). These categories are in turn divided into sub categories. One example of a salient conceptions of gender that is found in the category The Marriage Market is that the man chooses a woman, not the other way around. One example of a central conception in the category The Household is that the man earns money and supply other resources and the woman takes care of these resources. The significance of the conceptions of male and female sexuality is that they convey the difficulty in controlling a virulent male sexuality. The gender concept

This thesis explores a period in Northern Sweden when contacts between Sami and non-Sami became more frequent as the colonisation progressed. The investigated period is 1722-1895 and eight parishes in northern Sweden are under study. Both the northern as well as the southern Sami area are represented. The main purpose of the thesis is thus to see whether the cultural meeting between Sami and non-Sami affected the way people chose to make significant decisions. In this study these cultural meetings are represented by the way people married. To understand the consequences of cultural contacts, where individuals from different backgrounds meet, concepts developed within the field of acculturation theories are used. The marriage patterns among the inhabitants are viewed with regard to three key variables founded by Ruth Dixon, as these help to explain changes or continuations in the individuals’ marital behaviour. The southern Sami area seamed to be rather unaffected by the colonisation process, at least according to the marriage pattern. The analysis revealed limited economic openings for marriage as well as cemented marriage traditions, and these prevailed throughout the investigated period. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was evident that the northern Sami areas were significantly affected by the in-migrated newcomers. Even though the gender distribution in each parish seemed to matter, analysing the overall marriage pattern illuminated chiefly economic reasons for changes that occurred during the colonisation process. As the in-migration of non-Sami progressed, the age at first marriage increased particularly among Sami women. Furthermore, the results indicates that even though settled Sami probably interacted with non-Sami on a daily basis, and were integrated in their lifestyle, Sami settlers continuously estranged themselves from a complete assimilation and stuck to their Sami culture and traditions. Thus, language and cultural expressions seemed

The aim of this thesis is to understand the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, with the specific aim to analyse the activities of regional interest groups in the Norrland region and government agents at different administrative levels at the key stages of the decision-making processes: initiation, drafting and decision-making. The thesis also explores how institutional factors at different administrative levels affected the agents that were involved at those stages of the decision-making processes. As navigation along the northern Swedish coast must negotiate winter conditions which causes ports to freeze over, the government ice-breaking service functions as an instrument to compensate the export firms in Norrland for these constrains. Year-round navigation in the north Swedish coastal waters was achieved through a series of decision-making processes that took place during the period from 1940 to 1975. These decision-making processes are important to study since ice-breaking was an integrated component of the expanding heavy basic industries in Norrland and thereby for the rapidly growing exports during the 1950s and 1960s. This period is the decisive point in the economic history of the Norrland region regarding how the natural resources should be exploited and how exports should be advanced. This study concludes that the decision-making processes were initiated by government agents at different administrative levels. Official investigatory commissions were set up at several occasions to deal with issues related to the government ice-breaker service by the ministries responsible for ice-breaker policy. It is also demonstrated that the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaker investments were initiated by the government boards that were responsible for the operation of the ice-breaker service. In this respect, the study concludes that the government activities during the initiation stages should not be confused as

This dissertation deals with 199 gender related proverbs that were collected in northern Sweden and were used in an agrarian environment, approximately between the beginning of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The conceptions of gender which these proverbs convey also belong to the same time range and place. The aim of this dissertation is to find out which conceptions of gender that is conveyed by proverbs in an older agrarian environment in northern Sweden. In order to achieve this aim the following question is examined: What conceptions are found in the proverb material of the cultural category woman, the cultural category man and of the relationship between these categories? As a base for an interpretation of the proverbs, which are written in various Swedish dialects, a linguistic analysis is carried out. The interpretation is then formed through a concept that was developed by Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (1982); namely, base meaning. This concept relates to the shared meaning of a proverb by a group of people. The proverbs that include metaphors and similes are analyzed with a method that is developed from the cognitive linguistic theory of blending (Fauconnier & Turner 1996, 1998). The proverb material is sorted in three analytical categories, and presented in separate chapters: Chapter four, The Marriage Market (Äktenskapsmarknaden), chapter five: The Household (Hushållet) and chapter six, Sexuality (Sexualiteten). These categories are in turn divided into sub categories. One example of a salient conceptions of gender that is found in the category The Marriage Market is that the man chooses a woman, not the other way around. One example of a central conception in the category The Household is that the man earns money and supply other resources and the woman takes care of these resources. The significance of the conceptions of male and female sexuality is that they convey the difficulty in controlling a virulent male sexuality. The gender concept

This thesis explores a period in Northern Sweden when contacts between Sami and non-Sami became more frequent as the colonisation progressed. The investigated period is 1722-1895 and eight parishes in northern Sweden are under study. Both the northern as well as the southern Sami area are represented. The main purpose of the thesis is thus to see whether the cultural meeting between Sami and non-Sami affected the way people chose to make significant decisions. In this study these cultural meetings are represented by the way people married. To understand the consequences of cultural contacts, where individuals from different backgrounds meet, concepts developed within the field of acculturation theories are used. The marriage patterns among the inhabitants are viewed with regard to three key variables founded by Ruth Dixon, as these help to explain changes or continuations in the individuals’ marital behaviour. The southern Sami area seamed to be rather unaffected by the colonisation process, at least according to the marriage pattern. The analysis revealed limited economic openings for marriage as well as cemented marriage traditions, and these prevailed throughout the investigated period. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was evident that the northern Sami areas were significantly affected by the in-migrated newcomers. Even though the gender distribution in each parish seemed to matter, analysing the overall marriage pattern illuminated chiefly economic reasons for changes that occurred during the colonisation process. As the in-migration of non-Sami progressed, the age at first marriage increased particularly among Sami women. Furthermore, the results indicates that even though settled Sami probably interacted with non-Sami on a daily basis, and were integrated in their lifestyle, Sami settlers continuously estranged themselves from a complete assimilation and stuck to their Sami culture and traditions. Thus, language and cultural expressions seemed

The aim of this thesis is to understand the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, with the specific aim to analyse the activities of regional interest groups in the Norrland region and government agents at different administrative levels at the key stages of the decision-making processes: initiation, drafting and decision-making. The thesis also explores how institutional factors at different administrative levels affected the agents that were involved at those stages of the decision-making processes. As navigation along the northern Swedish coast must negotiate winter conditions which causes ports to freeze over, the government ice-breaking service functions as an instrument to compensate the export firms in Norrland for these constrains. Year-round navigation in the north Swedish coastal waters was achieved through a series of decision-making processes that took place during the period from 1940 to 1975. These decision-making processes are important to study since ice-breaking was an integrated component of the expanding heavy basic industries in Norrland and thereby for the rapidly growing exports during the 1950s and 1960s. This period is the decisive point in the economic history of the Norrland region regarding how the natural resources should be exploited and how exports should be advanced. This study concludes that the decision-making processes were initiated by government agents at different administrative levels. Official investigatory commissions were set up at several occasions to deal with issues related to the government ice-breaker service by the ministries responsible for ice-breaker policy. It is also demonstrated that the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaker investments were initiated by the government boards that were responsible for the operation of the ice-breaker service. In this respect, the study concludes that the government activities during the initiation stages should not be confused as

This thesis explores a period in Northern Sweden when contacts between Sami and non-Sami became more frequent as the colonisation progressed. The investigated period is 1722-1895 and eight parishes in northern Sweden are under study. Both the northern as well as the southern Sami area are represented. The main purpose of the thesis is thus to see whether the cultural meeting between Sami and non-Sami affected the way people chose to make significant decisions. In this study these cultural meetings are represented by the way people married. To understand the consequences of cultural contacts, where individuals from different backgrounds meet, concepts developed within the field of acculturation theories are used. The marriage patterns among the inhabitants are viewed with regard to three key variables founded by Ruth Dixon, as these help to explain changes or continuations in the individuals’ marital behaviour. The southern Sami area seamed to be rather unaffected by the colonisation process, at least according to the marriage pattern. The analysis revealed limited economic openings for marriage as well as cemented marriage traditions, and these prevailed throughout the investigated period. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was evident that the northern Sami areas were significantly affected by the in-migrated newcomers. Even though the gender distribution in each parish seemed to matter, analysing the overall marriage pattern illuminated chiefly economic reasons for changes that occurred during the colonisation process. As the in-migration of non-Sami progressed, the age at first marriage increased particularly among Sami women. Furthermore, the results indicates that even though settled Sami probably interacted with non-Sami on a daily basis, and were integrated in their lifestyle, Sami settlers continuously estranged themselves from a complete assimilation and stuck to their Sami culture and traditions. Thus, language and cultural expressions seemed

The aim of this thesis is to understand the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, with the specific aim to analyse the activities of regional interest groups in the Norrland region and government agents at different administrative levels at the key stages of the decision-making processes: initiation, drafting and decision-making. The thesis also explores how institutional factors at different administrative levels affected the agents that were involved at those stages of the decision-making processes. As navigation along the northern Swedish coast must negotiate winter conditions which causes ports to freeze over, the government ice-breaking service functions as an instrument to compensate the export firms in Norrland for these constrains. Year-round navigation in the north Swedish coastal waters was achieved through a series of decision-making processes that took place during the period from 1940 to 1975. These decision-making processes are important to study since ice-breaking was an integrated component of the expanding heavy basic industries in Norrland and thereby for the rapidly growing exports during the 1950s and 1960s. This period is the decisive point in the economic history of the Norrland region regarding how the natural resources should be exploited and how exports should be advanced. This study concludes that the decision-making processes were initiated by government agents at different administrative levels. Official investigatory commissions were set up at several occasions to deal with issues related to the government ice-breaker service by the ministries responsible for ice-breaker policy. It is also demonstrated that the decision-making processes concerning ice-breaker investments were initiated by the government boards that were responsible for the operation of the ice-breaker service. In this respect, the study concludes that the government activities during the initiation stages should not be confused as

This dissertation deals with 199 gender related proverbs that were collected in northern Sweden and were used in an agrarian environment, approximately between the beginning of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The conceptions of gender which these proverbs convey also belong to the same time range and place. The aim of this dissertation is to find out which conceptions of gender that is conveyed by proverbs in an older agrarian environment in northern Sweden. In order to achieve this aim the following question is examined: What conceptions are found in the proverb material of the cultural category woman, the cultural category man and of the relationship between these categories? As a base for an interpretation of the proverbs, which are written in various Swedish dialects, a linguistic analysis is carried out. The interpretation is then formed through a concept that was developed by Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (1982); namely, base meaning. This concept relates to the shared meaning of a proverb by a group of people. The proverbs that include metaphors and similes are analyzed with a method that is developed from the cognitive linguistic theory of blending (Fauconnier & Turner 1996, 1998). The proverb material is sorted in three analytical categories, and presented in separate chapters: Chapter four, The Marriage Market (Äktenskapsmarknaden), chapter five: The Household (Hushållet) and chapter six, Sexuality (Sexualiteten). These categories are in turn divided into sub categories. One example of a salient conceptions of gender that is found in the category The Marriage Market is that the man chooses a woman, not the other way around. One example of a central conception in the category The Household is that the man earns money and supply other resources and the woman takes care of these resources. The significance of the conceptions of male and female sexuality is that they convey the difficulty in controlling a virulent male sexuality. The gender concept

In this dissertation the construction of two coastal railways, the East Coast Line and the Bothnia Line, in the Norrland region of northern Sweden is used as a case study of how regionally based interest groups are formed, and how they gain access to decision-making processes on a national level. In periods when a number of preconditions were in place, a window of opportunity opened for the coastal railway that the regional elites could exploit. Among these was the ability to form a coherent regional interest group, through institutions that created platforms and power-bases that enable regional elites to co-operate and act on regional and national levels.The existence of an institutional framework that was adapitve towards regional railway promotion was also important. The study shows that the coastal railway had a very flexible role on the agenda, as it provided a fixed solution against which actors could pin a multitude of different problems. An important factor for explaining the development of the coastal railway question in Norrland was the ideological notion of the region itself. Being a vast, resource-rich and sparsely populated region, Norrland had almost always received special consideration in both public opinion and national policy making. It also created a remarkable stubbornness among the regional actors in working for the coastal railway. Regional interest groups had also learnt that linking their claims to Norrland's peripheral position had high legitimacy on the national arena, by claiming the need for regional fairness and/or the national importance of the regional export-intensive industries. This was instrumental in justifying the repeated exemptions from the national railway policy regimes that ultimately were decissive in making the regional elites successful.

In this dissertation the construction of two coastal railways, the East Coast Line and the Bothnia Line, in the Norrland region of northern Sweden is used as a case study of how regionally based interest groups are formed, and how they gain access to decision-making processes on a national level. In periods when a number of preconditions were in place, a window of opportunity opened for the coastal railway that the regional elites could exploit. Among these was the ability to form a coherent regional interest group, through institutions that created platforms and power-bases that enable regional elites to co-operate and act on regional and national levels.The existence of an institutional framework that was adapitve towards regional railway promotion was also important. The study shows that the coastal railway had a very flexible role on the agenda, as it provided a fixed solution against which actors could pin a multitude of different problems. An important factor for explaining the development of the coastal railway question in Norrland was the ideological notion of the region itself. Being a vast, resource-rich and sparsely populated region, Norrland had almost always received special consideration in both public opinion and national policy making. It also created a remarkable stubbornness among the regional actors in working for the coastal railway. Regional interest groups had also learnt that linking their claims to Norrland's peripheral position had high legitimacy on the national arena, by claiming the need for regional fairness and/or the national importance of the regional export-intensive industries. This was instrumental in justifying the repeated exemptions from the national railway policy regimes that ultimately were decissive in making the regional elites successful.

In this dissertation the construction of two coastal railways, the East Coast Line and the Bothnia Line, in the Norrland region of northern Sweden is used as a case study of how regionally based interest groups are formed, and how they gain access to decision-making processes on a national level. In periods when a number of preconditions were in place, a window of opportunity opened for the coastal railway that the regional elites could exploit. Among these was the ability to form a coherent regional interest group, through institutions that created platforms and power-bases that enable regional elites to co-operate and act on regional and national levels.The existence of an institutional framework that was adapitve towards regional railway promotion was also important. The study shows that the coastal railway had a very flexible role on the agenda, as it provided a fixed solution against which actors could pin a multitude of different problems. An important factor for explaining the development of the coastal railway question in Norrland was the ideological notion of the region itself. Being a vast, resource-rich and sparsely populated region, Norrland had almost always received special consideration in both public opinion and national policy making. It also created a remarkable stubbornness among the regional actors in working for the coastal railway. Regional interest groups had also learnt that linking their claims to Norrland's peripheral position had high legitimacy on the national arena, by claiming the need for regional fairness and/or the national importance of the regional export-intensive industries. This was instrumental in justifying the repeated exemptions from the national railway policy regimes that ultimately were decissive in making the regional elites successful.

In this dissertation the construction of two coastal railways, the East Coast Line and the Bothnia Line, in the Norrland region of northern Sweden is used as a case study of how regionally based interest groups are formed, and how they gain access to decision-making processes on a national level. In periods when a number of preconditions were in place, a window of opportunity opened for the coastal railway that the regional elites could exploit. Among these was the ability to form a coherent regional interest group, through institutions that created platforms and power-bases that enable regional elites to co-operate and act on regional and national levels.The existence of an institutional framework that was adapitve towards regional railway promotion was also important. The study shows that the coastal railway had a very flexible role on the agenda, as it provided a fixed solution against which actors could pin a multitude of different problems. An important factor for explaining the development of the coastal railway question in Norrland was the ideological notion of the region itself. Being a vast, resource-rich and sparsely populated region, Norrland had almost always received special consideration in both public opinion and national policy making. It also created a remarkable stubbornness among the regional actors in working for the coastal railway. Regional interest groups had also learnt that linking their claims to Norrland's peripheral position had high legitimacy on the national arena, by claiming the need for regional fairness and/or the national importance of the regional export-intensive industries. This was instrumental in justifying the repeated exemptions from the national railway policy regimes that ultimately were decissive in making the regional elites successful.

The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse socio-economic changes in northern Sweden. Focus is on the period 1985-2000. Population development, restructuring of economic activities, political and cultural changes are related to a theoretical discussion on the transformation of sparsely populated areas as an outcome of multi-dimensional and interrelated processes. Besides an introductory and concluding section, the thesis contains four papers. The first paper deals with forestry's changed role in the local economy of four municipalities located in the inland areas of upper Norrland. The changes within forestry have been driven by adaptation to global competition and rapid technical development. Even though timber production has increased in some of the municipalities, job losses have greatly reduced the importance of forestry in the local economies. Many employees have left forestry for work in other branches, unemployment or retirement However, relatively few have moved from the area. A multiplier model was employed in order to analyse the impact on the local economy. The second paper deals with population changes in the six northernmost counties. During the 1990s, most municipalities and rural areas in northern Sweden have experienced renewed depopulation. At the same time, some rural areas have shown significant population growth. Three types of rural areas with population growth have been identified. Firstly, there are rural areas within daily commuting distance from regional centres. Secondly, there is a group of rural areas, mainly a number of mountain villages close to the border with Norway, which has benefited from the tourist industry. Finally, there are a few rural areas characterised by attractive residential environments and leisure housing. The third paper is based on a classification of 500 residential areas and villages in the county of Västerbotten into seven types of housing environments. In this way, the county is broken down into a mosaic of, Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2002, digitalisering@umu

The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse socio-economic changes in northern Sweden. Focus is on the period 1985-2000. Population development, restructuring of economic activities, political and cultural changes are related to a theoretical discussion on the transformation of sparsely populated areas as an outcome of multi-dimensional and interrelated processes. Besides an introductory and concluding section, the thesis contains four papers. The first paper deals with forestry's changed role in the local economy of four municipalities located in the inland areas of upper Norrland. The changes within forestry have been driven by adaptation to global competition and rapid technical development. Even though timber production has increased in some of the municipalities, job losses have greatly reduced the importance of forestry in the local economies. Many employees have left forestry for work in other branches, unemployment or retirement However, relatively few have moved from the area. A multiplier model was employed in order to analyse the impact on the local economy. The second paper deals with population changes in the six northernmost counties. During the 1990s, most municipalities and rural areas in northern Sweden have experienced renewed depopulation. At the same time, some rural areas have shown significant population growth. Three types of rural areas with population growth have been identified. Firstly, there are rural areas within daily commuting distance from regional centres. Secondly, there is a group of rural areas, mainly a number of mountain villages close to the border with Norway, which has benefited from the tourist industry. Finally, there are a few rural areas characterised by attractive residential environments and leisure housing. The third paper is based on a classification of 500 residential areas and villages in the county of Västerbotten into seven types of housing environments. In this way, the county is broken down into a mosaic of, Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2002, digitalisering@umu

The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse socio-economic changes in northern Sweden. Focus is on the period 1985-2000. Population development, restructuring of economic activities, political and cultural changes are related to a theoretical discussion on the transformation of sparsely populated areas as an outcome of multi-dimensional and interrelated processes. Besides an introductory and concluding section, the thesis contains four papers. The first paper deals with forestry's changed role in the local economy of four municipalities located in the inland areas of upper Norrland. The changes within forestry have been driven by adaptation to global competition and rapid technical development. Even though timber production has increased in some of the municipalities, job losses have greatly reduced the importance of forestry in the local economies. Many employees have left forestry for work in other branches, unemployment or retirement However, relatively few have moved from the area. A multiplier model was employed in order to analyse the impact on the local economy. The second paper deals with population changes in the six northernmost counties. During the 1990s, most municipalities and rural areas in northern Sweden have experienced renewed depopulation. At the same time, some rural areas have shown significant population growth. Three types of rural areas with population growth have been identified. Firstly, there are rural areas within daily commuting distance from regional centres. Secondly, there is a group of rural areas, mainly a number of mountain villages close to the border with Norway, which has benefited from the tourist industry. Finally, there are a few rural areas characterised by attractive residential environments and leisure housing. The third paper is based on a classification of 500 residential areas and villages in the county of Västerbotten into seven types of housing environments. In this way, the county is broken down into a mosaic of, Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2002, digitalisering@umu

The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse socio-economic changes in northern Sweden. Focus is on the period 1985-2000. Population development, restructuring of economic activities, political and cultural changes are related to a theoretical discussion on the transformation of sparsely populated areas as an outcome of multi-dimensional and interrelated processes. Besides an introductory and concluding section, the thesis contains four papers. The first paper deals with forestry's changed role in the local economy of four municipalities located in the inland areas of upper Norrland. The changes within forestry have been driven by adaptation to global competition and rapid technical development. Even though timber production has increased in some of the municipalities, job losses have greatly reduced the importance of forestry in the local economies. Many employees have left forestry for work in other branches, unemployment or retirement However, relatively few have moved from the area. A multiplier model was employed in order to analyse the impact on the local economy. The second paper deals with population changes in the six northernmost counties. During the 1990s, most municipalities and rural areas in northern Sweden have experienced renewed depopulation. At the same time, some rural areas have shown significant population growth. Three types of rural areas with population growth have been identified. Firstly, there are rural areas within daily commuting distance from regional centres. Secondly, there is a group of rural areas, mainly a number of mountain villages close to the border with Norway, which has benefited from the tourist industry. Finally, there are a few rural areas characterised by attractive residential environments and leisure housing. The third paper is based on a classification of 500 residential areas and villages in the county of Västerbotten into seven types of housing environments. In this way, the county is broken down into a mosaic of, Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2002, digitalisering@umu