Journal of Economic Literature
Allensworth, Rebecca Haw. The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong
2026-02-26
Gabriel Scheffler of University of Miami School of Law reviews “The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong” by Rebecca Haw Allensworth. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores the function of the professional licensing system, its effects on equality, public health, and the economy, and its role in the American Dream, emphasizing the need for a coherent, defensible theory for when licensing is required.”