An article by Dr. Edward Timmons, associate professor of economics and director of the Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation (CSOR), was published by the  Harvard Business Review. The article, entitled “More and More Jobs Today Require a License. That’s Good For Some Workers, But Not Always For Consumers”, highlights the findings of a research article co-authored by Dr. Timmons on the effects of optician licensing that was published by Eastern Economic Journal.

The article gives some background on growth in occupational licensing, as well as some recommendations for policy.

“Occupational licensing is the most stringent type of occupational regulation as it prevents individuals from working in a profession without meeting government mandated entry requirements,” Timmons says. “The percentage of workers directly affected by occupational licensing continues to grow. A careful consideration of the costs and benefits of occupational licensing is warranted.”