Licensing Occupations: Ensuring Quality or Restricting Competition?

The licensing of occupations is often seen as stealth regulation that operates under the public policy radar screen. Unlike other labor market institutions, such as laws regulating unions or the minimum wage, the regulation of occupations has received little attention from the press, academics, or policymakers. 
However, this lack of attention is not because occupational licensing is diminishing in the labor market. Since the 1950s, licensing coverage has grown from about 5 percent of the workforce to more than 20 percent, while unions have declined from about a third of the workforce to less than 13 percent, and to less than 8 percent in the private sector. In addition, approximately 50 occupations are licensed in all states, and about 800 occupations are similarly regulated in at least one state. 
This pathbreaking book reveals the impacts of occupational licensing on the economies of the United States and several EU countries. Kleiner provides a thorough and up-to-date examination of the costs and benefits of occupational licensing (OL). He offers an explanation for the growth of OL, defines the winners and losers in terms of earnings and the quality of services provided by licensees, compares the differing labor market and price impacts of OL in the United States and Europe, provides evidence on the overall net impacts of OL for society, and offers policy alternatives to OL.

Business & Money

Morris M. Kleiner

Management & Leadership

W.E. Upjohn Institute

The licensing of occupations is often seen as stealth regulation that operates under the public policy radar screen. Unlike other labor market institutions, such as laws regulating unions or the minimum wage, the regulation of occupations has received little attention from the press, academics, or policymakers. However, this lack of attention is not because occupational licensing is diminishing in the labor market. Since the 1950s, licensing coverage has grown from about 5 percent of the workforce to more than 20 percent, while unions have declined from about a third of the workforce to less than 13 percent, and to less than 8 percent in the private sector. In addition, approximately 50 occupations are licensed in all states, and about 800 occupations are similarly regulated in at least one state. This pathbreaking book reveals the impacts of occupational licensing on the economies of the United States and several EU countries. Kleiner provides a thorough and up-to-date examination of the costs and benefits of occupational licensing (OL). He offers an explanation for the growth of OL, defines the winners and losers in terms of earnings and the quality of services provided by licensees, compares the differing labor market and price impacts of OL in the United States and Europe, provides evidence on the overall net impacts of OL for society, and offers policy alternatives to OL.

Economics

Stages of Occupational Regulation: Analysis of Case Studies

Occupational regulation in the U.S. labor market is a growing phenomenon. As of 2008, nearly 40 percent of individuals in jobs had either a license or certification from some form of local, state, or federal government. Following up on the success of his previous volume, "Licensing Occupations: Ensuring Quality or Restricting Competition?", Morris M. Kleiner brings us a book that furthers our knowledge of the effects of occupational regulation by showing how varying stages of regulation impact those in the occupations, closely related occupational practitioners, and, ultimately, consumers through the quality and cost of services provided. The case studies Kleiner performs focus on seven occupations with varying levels of regulation. They are 1) interior designers, 2) mortgage brokers, 3) preschool teachers, 4) electricians, 5) plumbers, 6) dental hygienists, and 7) dentists.

Human Resources

In his third Upjohn Press book on occupational licensing, Morris M. Kleiner examines why the institution of occupational licensing has had such a curious evolution and influence in the United States, the European Union, and China. He also discusses the many similarities it has to guilds.

Guild-Ridden Labor Markets: The Curious Case of Occupational Licensing

This book provides a nontechnical approach for practitioners, academics, and students of regulation who are interested in the role of institutions in labor markets. Taken together, the detailed case studies presented within indicate that an increase in the availability of service providers or enhanced competition does not have negative effects on the quality of services provided, prices, or survey measures of consumer satisfaction.

Grease or Grit? International Case Studies of Occupational Licensing and Its Effects on Efficiency and Quality

Maria Koumenta, eds.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Morris M. Kleiner. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Morris M. Kleiner

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Morris M. Kleiner. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Licensing Occupations: Ensuring Quality or Restricting Competition?

Licensing Occupations: Ensuring Quality or Restricting Competition?

Stages of Occupational Regulation: Analysis of Case Studies

Stages of Occupational Regulation: Analysis of Case Studies

Guild-Ridden Labor Markets: The Curious Case of Occupational Licensing

Grease or Grit? International Case Studies of Occupational Licensing and Its Effects on Efficiency and Quality