Fighting Back Against Occupational Licensing

[doitvoluntarily]

Occupational licensing schemes today are estimated to be keeping millions of jobs out of the market.

There are licensing restrictions for just about every sort of exchange you could think of.

If you want to offer tours of your city to others who might be interested, or do someone's makeup, organize their flowers, braid their hair, give them a hair cut, or make them a drink, it's going to first require third-party permission from the state.

Occupational licensing schemes have failed however, to promote superior service today in the market.

Instead, it could be argued that they have fueled monopolies and that they keep people who need the help most, from being able to start their own business and serve others in their community. Because of the seeming injustice of the occupational licensing restrictions, a number of lawsuits have been launched to try and challenge those rules and hopefully scale-back the ever-growing regulatory web..

These legal challenges have sought to have lawmakers reduce their occupational licensing requirements in an effort to try and promote more freedom.

These various licensing restrictions that are in place are working to keep prices high but they're reducing competition and contributing to keeping the quality low. It might sound a tad bit radical, but imagine if people were able to engage in an exchange voluntarily and they didn't need to seek the permission of any other party before they made the choice to do so.

Occupational licensing makes it harder for people to find work and to build a business that they might be passionate about. And it most often impacts those who are less fortunate in society.

These government permission slips are standing in the way of people trying to make peaceful exchanges and the restrictions are often irrational; working better to support special interests than promote any sort of public health or safety.

Victory In NJ

In NJ, it's estimated that roughly 1 in 3 workers first require that government permission slip before they can serve others; do their job. And NJ has been labeled as one of the worst states for licensing restrictions in the entire country.

However, a little over a month ago, before Gov. Chris Christie left office, he had successfully managed to veto 3 different bills that would have eventually gone on to create at least 7 new occupational licenses.

Aside from those few he might have vetoed though, he did pass quite a few; Christie signed and approved of more than 100 different bills on his last day.

If these bills on occupational licensing would have been passed however, then licenses would have come about for a variety of new services including things like music therapy, drama therapy, dance and movement therapy, and more.

One of the rejected bills would also have established a licensing scheme for anyone who was interested in building, installing, repairing, or maintaining, any sort of spa or pool equipment.

There are dozens of other bills, for different areas around the US--Florida, Arizona, and elsewhere--that are likewise looking to cut back on the occupational licensing; a scheme that severely restricts economic mobility and personal liberty. And multiple lawsuits related to this issue are currently underway for states like Georgia, Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, and other regions.

Pics:
Pixabay
via thedataschool.co.uk
giphy

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2018/03/06/in-welcome-win-against-overregulation-7-new-licenses-killed-in-new-jersey/&refURL=&referrer=
https://www.ij.org/images/pdf_folder/economic_liberty/occupational_licensing/licensetowork.pdf
http://ij.org/report/license-to-work/ltw-state-data/?state=nj
https://steemit.com/politics/@doitvoluntarily/occupational-licensing-keeps-millions-of-jobs-out-of-the-market
http://reason.com/blog/2018/01/16/florida-house-passes-licensing-reforms
http://freebeacon.com/politics/occupational-licensing-reform-weaves-rare-bipartisan-consensus/
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2018/01/09/ruling-on-occupational-licensing-boards-could-open-floodgates-to-lawsuits/
http://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/367444-occupational-licensing-locks-too-many-americans-out-of-the-job
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/trump-obama-occupational-licensing/536619/
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/governor/2018/01/15/christie-signs-100-bills-into-law-and-pocket-vetoes-50-more-last-day/1033804001/

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Comments

[dajohns1420]

A fade isn't something we can just leave up to the market bro.

[johnvibes]

I am shocked to see this out of Jersey of all places lol, they are usually super strict with this kind of thing.

This type of licensing is the kind of thing that keeps people poor though.

[liwen12345]

I would argue that licensing is needed for professions that affect people life and safety such as engineers and doctors. but yes totally agree with you that this is unnecessary from a lot of jobs too.

[doitvoluntarily]

a monopoly on coercion shouldn't be needed for that though :)

[mouthofthecreek]

I can think of several business were I live that have not been able to open due to rules with alcohol sales license. Luckily event vending is not heavily restricted, and a simply health department inspection can resolve any issues.

[pijon]

Access to jobs is vital to economic opportunity. A fair and well-functioning labor market provides that access, allowing the widest possible scope for individuals to exercise their talents and support their families. Licensing plays an important role in determining workers’ wages, employment, and mobility as well as the overall health of the labor market.

[joalvarez]

The government doesn't want anyone to succeed or make money. They need to be in control of everything and everyone, because they want workers who make them money and not business people who are trying to offer their good works which can actually help others and themselves.

[stef1]

The problem with licensing for business and especially for small businesses is a great problem in Western countries, you are right that leads to high prices and less competition. I can compare two countries as we are Germans but residents of Scotland at present, so we can see on example of those two countries, the licensing here is easier therefore many small enterprises but if something happens then there is no real support from trades union like it is in Germany. Luckily myself I am working for State of course this is the best but I can imagine for other people who do not have such opportunity this is quite difficult situation.

[shahabshah]

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[ocrdu]

Is there a lobby trying to, let's say, reinstall guilds? Who are they?

[rizasukma]

Thanks a lot for sharing insights from this great article. Good luck always for you @doitvoluntarily.

[oxygenbaba]

If I may understand this post, occupational licensing should not be mandatory for individual citicens to work rather than the organisations whose have resgistered under government ...

[triptybarsha]

This great writing, appreciate your blog.
Upore and resteemit

[glorimarbolivar]

Hola amiga como siempre genial en tus publicaciones, saludos @doitvoluntarily

[muh]

Wooo nice

[melissakellie]

great post :)

[endplunder]

It's a modern day stamp act.