Testing the Utility of Licensing: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Occupational Regulation

Licensing an occupation may be more motivated by increasing the wages for people that are already members of that profession through limiting competition, as opposed to ensuring quality and public safety. This study found that there was very little difference in product quality between floral arrangements created by licensed versus unlicensed florists.

Carpenter, D. (2012). Testing the Utility of Licensing: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Occupational Regulation. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 13(2), 28–41. http://www.na-businesspress.com/JABE/CarpenterDM_Web13_2_.pdf