Teeth Whitening and Occupational Licensing

Walter BLOCK

Abstract


Abstract. The case for occupational licensing, whether for physicians or teeth whiteners, is highly problematic. This paper makes the case for a free market system in certification of quality in medical and dental care, and much else. Purpose: To explore occupational licensure as an infringement of liberty. Design/methodology/approach: a logical and empirical analysis. Findings: teeth whitening regulations serve as an anti-competitive barrier to entry. Originality/value: applying the concept of entry restrictions is not original; applying them to teeth whitening, is. This is of value in that for economic liberty to be promoted, schemes against it such as this one must be analyzed and exposed.

Keywords. Restricted entry, Modern guilds, Free enterprise.

JEL. I11.


Full Text:


References


Block, W. (2009). The Privatization of Roads and Highways: Human and Economic Factors, Mises Instutute Publishing: Alabama.

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Friedman, M. (1962). Occupational licensure, Chapter 9; Capitalism and Freedom, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Gellhorn, W. (1976). The abuse of occupational licensing. University of Chicago Law Review 44, 6-27.

Robertson, C. (2013). A clash over who is allowed to give you a brighter smile: Dental boards move against salons offering teeth-whitening services. New York Times, May 26.

Young, S. D. (2002). Occupational licensing. Library of economics and liberty.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1453/jepe.v2i3.347

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