Reforming America’s Professional Licensing System: The Licensing Racket
In her new book, “The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, & Why It Goes Wrong,” law professor and antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth sheds light on the flaws in America’s professional licensing system. While licensing boards are intended to protect consumers, Allensworth argues that their decisions can often be arbitrary and their disciplinary actions flawed.
Allensworth delves into the history and function of licensing in the United States, challenging the necessity of licenses across various professions, from hairdressing to law and medicine. She shares shocking stories from disciplinary proceedings for healthcare workers accused of misconduct, highlighting the discrepancies and injustices she witnessed.
The podcast episode of The Modern Law Library features a conversation between Allensworth and ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles, where they discuss the need for reform in professional licensing. Allensworth advocates for government agencies to take a more active role in overseeing professions, rather than relying on self-regulation through licensing boards and volunteers.
Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an expert in antitrust and professional licensing, explores how competition policy can address challenges posed by tech platforms and the balance lawmakers must strike in regulating professions. Her research has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and recognized with the Jerry S. Cohen Memorial Fund Writing Award for Antitrust Scholarship.
For those interested in learning more about the complexities of professional licensing in America, Allensworth’s book provides a comprehensive analysis of the system’s shortcomings and proposes solutions for a more just and effective regulatory framework.
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Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a prominent figure in the field of antitrust and professional licensing, offers a critical examination of America’s professional licensing system in her latest book, “The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, & Why It Goes Wrong.” Through her research and expertise, Allensworth brings to light the inconsistencies and challenges within the current licensing structure, advocating for significant reforms to better protect consumers and uphold professional standards.
