Across Occupations, Research Finds Licensing Benefits Few but Costs Many
There is a large body of research on occupational licensing across a wide range of jobs. Most of this research has explored the economic effects of licensing, providing ample evidence that it benefits existing licensees economically—and that these private benefits come at a cost to aspiring workers and consumers. Research exploring licensing’s effects on health and safety or service quality is comparatively sparse. However, most available evidence suggests licensing does little to improve service quality or safety.