goals. The description of the livelihood system was considered not only a list of

components, but also an elucidation of the complex dynamic that makes these pieces flow

in production-consumption cycles.

Market Integration

 Virtually all indigenous groups, even the ones that inhabit isolated areas, have

some participation in the market (Varese 1973, Padoch 1992, Rojas 1994, Heinrich 1997,

Belcher 1998). These groups seek access to commodities that cannot be produced locally,

ranging from very basic needs such as salt or iron tools, to more complex needs such as

radio-cassette players or chainsaws (Padoch 1992). An analysis of market integration was

applied to the data to describe and quantify the degree to which both households and

villages participate in the market economy. Three variables were used to measure market

integration:

 1) Market Integration Score: Based on Heinrich's (1997) work in Machiguenga

communities in the Peruvian Amazon, a market integration (MI) variable was developed

to serve as an indicator of market integration for each household by surveying selected

western possessions owned by each household. Five items of higher market value were

selected (Table 2-2), each with a slightly different market score based on their relative

market value. The sums of the scores for each household resulted in the MI score for that

household. Following Heinrich's (1997) work, items of little market value were excluded

from the scoring because they provide little explanation of the degree of market

integration, while those of higher value are typically strong indicators. This measure of

market integration is valid to the extent that households which spend more money on

these western goods also maintained a higher degree of market integration.