As of September, individuals in Texas will no longer require a license from the state to offer plumbing services. Talk show host Michael Berry, who often opposes occupational licensing, recently criticized this move. Berry correctly noted that occupational licensing is enacted under the pretense of protecting the public. He criticized the licensing of hair braiders…
Throughout history, innovators have been criticized and mocked by their contemporaries. They have been accused of insanity and fraud. They have been scorned and ostracized. But when they have been free, they have been able to demonstrate the truth of their vision. When they have been free, they have been able to prove their critics…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on August 7, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. You might think that all it takes to start a business is a good idea and the necessary capital. And you would be wrong. The Cato Institute informs us that, in some states, you also have to have the permission…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 17, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. Occupational licensing is presented as a way to protect consumers from unscrupulous and incompetent individuals. Licensing, we are told, will assure consumers that they are dealing with reputable and competent practioners. In the past, licensing was simply a way to…
The following article was published on Capitalism Magazine.com. $ $ $ Across the nation, millions of entrepreneurial Americans seek to create jobs, pursue their passion, or simply make a few extra dollars by starting their own business. But often, they are forced to abandon their dreams, not because they lack talent or capital, but because…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on October 4, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. From what I can tell, Glenn Beck considers himself a libertarian. On Friday, he was explaining libertarianism to a caller. At one point, Beck said that libertarians don’t believe in government regulation. He then “corrected” himself and said that…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on November 12, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I have recently stumbled across a number of stories regarding various states cracking down on unlicensed contractors. In several of these stories the state set up a sting to attract contractors to bid on a job, and then arrested…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on August 6, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Last Saturday I got a hair cut, which was not the highlight of my weekend. However, while sitting in the chair, voluntarily allowing a strange woman to fondle my hair, I noticed her prominently displayed cosmetology license. I was…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on January 14, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I have previously written about occupational licensing as method by which those within a profession use coercion to limit competitors and increase their own income. A recent article in The Freeman provides further evidence, and shows how absurd licensing…