Do You Have a License for That Livelihood?

The Institute for Justice (IJ) recently released an updated edition of its report on the state of occupational licensing in the country. The report, which examines the licensing requirements for 102 different occupations across all fifty states and the District of Columbia, illustrates how licensed professionals cooperate with state legislators to make it increasingly difficult for new professionals to enter licensed industries. As such, occupational licensing has transitioned from a policy tool to protect consumers from receiving poor service in dangerous industries to a cronyistic cudgel used to stifle competition and increase the price of services. Research has consistently shown