On the surface, reforming occupational licensing to make it easier for workers to move across state lines sounds like a good thing. And the policy is good, but the timing makes the proposal very outdated. The policy initiative would have been innovative four years ago, but today it is more old hat.
As we at the Knee Regulatory Research Center have documented, there are now 26 states that have passed some form of universal recognition. Universal recognition eliminates the friction that occupational licensing creates for workers and entrepreneurs working across state lines. When universal recognition is implemented properly, states trust the licensing authorities from other states to do their job.
Continue reading at The Detroit News.
Edward Timmons, PhD, is Vice President of Policy at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's economic policy strategy, identifying focus areas and disseminating work to key stakeholders and policymakers. His own research focuses on labor economics and regulatory policy; he is regularly asked to provide expert testimony to U.S. states on occupational licensing reform and the practice authority of nurse practitioners. Dr. Timmons received his Ph.D. in economics from Lehigh University and his B.A. in economics and actuarial science from Lebanon Valley College. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack with the latest research and policy insights surrounding occupational licensing.
Economics of Flourishing
On the surface, reforming occupational licensing to make it easier for workers to move across state lines sounds like a good thing. And the policy is good, but the timing makes the proposal very outdated. The policy initiative would have been innovative four years ago, but today it is more old hat.
As we at the Knee Regulatory Research Center have documented, there are now 26 states that have passed some form of universal recognition. Universal recognition eliminates the friction that occupational licensing creates for workers and entrepreneurs working across state lines. When universal recognition is implemented properly, states trust the licensing authorities from other states to do their job.
Continue reading at The Detroit News.
Edward Timmons
Edward Timmons, PhD, is Vice President of Policy at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's economic policy strategy, identifying focus areas and disseminating work to key stakeholders and policymakers. His own research focuses on labor economics and regulatory policy; he is regularly asked to provide expert testimony to U.S. states on occupational licensing reform and the practice authority of nurse practitioners. Dr. Timmons received his Ph.D. in economics from Lehigh University and his B.A. in economics and actuarial science from Lebanon Valley College. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack with the latest research and policy insights surrounding occupational licensing.
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