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Title: Bringing the Effects of Occupational Licensing into Focus: Optician Licensing in the United States

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2015

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Abstract: The labor market institution of occupational licensing continues to grow in scope in the United States and abroad. In this paper, we estimate the effects of occupational licensing on opticians using data from the US Census and American Community Survey. The results suggest that opticians earn 0.30.5 percent more for each year that a licensing statute is in effect. In addition, tougher licensing provisions (in the form of more exams or longer education requirements) increase optician earnings by 23 percent. In an examination of vision insurance and malpractice insurance premiums, we find little evidence that optician licensing has enhanced the quality of services delivered to consumers. By and large, optician licensing appears to be reducing consumer welfare by raising the earnings of opticians without enhancing the quality of services delivered to consumers.

Url: http://mercatus.org/sites/default/files/Timmons-OpticianLicensing.pdf

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Authors: Timmons, Edward J.; Mills, Anna

Publisher: Mercatus Center, George Mason University

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure

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