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Battling over Jobs: Occupational Licensing in Health Care

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  • Morris M. Kleiner

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to outline the major tensions between the monopoly face of licensing versus potential consumer protection goals of occupational regulation in the health care industry. Historically, health care occupations limited supply as a method of raising earnings, but with the growth in the number of newly regulated occupations, many professions have come in conflict over who gets to do the work. Rather than having consumers decide, state legislatures and licensing boards determine the allocation of tasks. The paper outlines policies that may allow consumers rather than service providers determine the direct allocation of these jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Morris M. Kleiner, 2016. "Battling over Jobs: Occupational Licensing in Health Care," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(5), pages 165-170, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:106:y:2016:i:5:p:165-70
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20161000
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Morris M. Kleiner & Allison Marier & Kyoung Won Park & Coady Wing, 2016. "Relaxing Occupational Licensing Requirements: Analyzing Wages and Prices for a Medical Service," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 59(2), pages 261-291.
    8. Stange, Kevin, 2014. "How does provider supply and regulation influence health care markets? Evidence from nurse practitioners and physician assistants," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 1-27.
    9. Morris M. Kleiner, 2013. "Stages of Occupational Regulation: Analysis of Case Studies," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number sor, November.
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    11. Jing Cai & Morris M. Kleiner, 2016. "The Labor Market Consequences of Regulating Similar Occupations: The Licensing of Occupational and Physical Therapists," Upjohn Working Papers 16-259, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Morikawa, Masayuki, 2018. "Occupational licenses and labor market outcomes in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 45-56.
    2. Roy Choudhury, Agnitra & Plemmons, Alicia, 2023. "Effects of giving psychologists prescriptive authority: Evidence from a natural experiment in the United States," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Noghanibehambari, Hamid & Fletcher, Jason, 2023. "Long-Term Health Benefits of Occupational Licensing: Evidence from Midwifery Laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    4. Shishir Shakya & Alicia Plemmons, 2020. "Does Scope of Practice Affect Mobility of Nurse Practitioners Serving Medicare Beneficiaries?," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 421-434, December.
    5. Jie Chen & Chad D. Meyerhoefer & Edward J. Timmons, 2024. "The effects of dental hygienist autonomy on dental care utilization," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1726-1747, August.
    6. Boto-García, David & Balado-Naves, Roberto & Mayor, Matías & Baños-Pino, José Francisco, 2023. "Consumers' demand for operational licencing: evidence from Airbnb in Paris," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Chen, Alice J. & Munnich, Elizabeth L. & Parente, Stephen T. & Richards, Michael R., 2023. "Provider turf wars and Medicare payment rules," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    8. Guo, Jiapei & Kilby, Angela E. & Marks, Mindy S., 2024. "The impact of scope-of-practice restrictions on access to medical care," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    9. MORIKAWA Masayuki, 2017. "Occupational Licenses and Labor Market Outcomes," Discussion papers 17078, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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