Stephen Dubner

I think it's going to be an amazing night, at least on paper it is. You never know what happens with a live show. And that's part of the fun. So I hope you'll join us. Tickets at Freakonomics.com slash live shows. One word. Get them fast. Only a few left. February 13th in L.A., produced in partnership with LAist and SiriusXM. I'll see you there.

I think it's going to be an amazing night, at least on paper it is. You never know what happens with a live show. And that's part of the fun. So I hope you'll join us. Tickets at Freakonomics.com slash live shows. One word. Get them fast. Only a few left. February 13th in L.A., produced in partnership with LAist and SiriusXM. I'll see you there.

I think it's going to be an amazing night, at least on paper it is. You never know what happens with a live show. And that's part of the fun. So I hope you'll join us. Tickets at Freakonomics.com slash live shows. One word. Get them fast. Only a few left. February 13th in L.A., produced in partnership with LAist and SiriusXM. I'll see you there.

What does a hairdresser have in common with a lawyer? How about an interior designer and a doctor, an auctioneer and a funeral director? These are not jokes. I'm sorry. I wish they were. What these jobs all have in common is that they require a professional license, which is administered by a licensing board that is often made up of other doctors and funeral directors and hairdressers.

What does a hairdresser have in common with a lawyer? How about an interior designer and a doctor, an auctioneer and a funeral director? These are not jokes. I'm sorry. I wish they were. What these jobs all have in common is that they require a professional license, which is administered by a licensing board that is often made up of other doctors and funeral directors and hairdressers.

What does a hairdresser have in common with a lawyer? How about an interior designer and a doctor, an auctioneer and a funeral director? These are not jokes. I'm sorry. I wish they were. What these jobs all have in common is that they require a professional license, which is administered by a licensing board that is often made up of other doctors and funeral directors and hairdressers.

This may not be something you've ever thought about, and I wouldn't blame you. It's one of those things a friend of mine calls a MIGO topic. MIGO standing for my eyes glaze over. But when you think about how our economy works, these labor licensing rules are pretty important.

This may not be something you've ever thought about, and I wouldn't blame you. It's one of those things a friend of mine calls a MIGO topic. MIGO standing for my eyes glaze over. But when you think about how our economy works, these labor licensing rules are pretty important.

This may not be something you've ever thought about, and I wouldn't blame you. It's one of those things a friend of mine calls a MIGO topic. MIGO standing for my eyes glaze over. But when you think about how our economy works, these labor licensing rules are pretty important.

Rebecca Allensworth is a law professor at Vanderbilt University, and she's written a book about professional licensing. We Americans like to think of our economy as open and dynamic. Allensworth shows that in many ways it's not, and that these licensing boards help too many bad actors stay in their professions and keep too many good ones out.

Rebecca Allensworth is a law professor at Vanderbilt University, and she's written a book about professional licensing. We Americans like to think of our economy as open and dynamic. Allensworth shows that in many ways it's not, and that these licensing boards help too many bad actors stay in their professions and keep too many good ones out.

Rebecca Allensworth is a law professor at Vanderbilt University, and she's written a book about professional licensing. We Americans like to think of our economy as open and dynamic. Allensworth shows that in many ways it's not, and that these licensing boards help too many bad actors stay in their professions and keep too many good ones out.

And that's why she called her book The Licensing Racket.

And that's why she called her book The Licensing Racket.

And that's why she called her book The Licensing Racket.

B-O-A-R-D, presumably.

B-O-A-R-D, presumably.

B-O-A-R-D, presumably.

Around 20% of the American workforce is subject to professional licensing. The system is sanctioned by state governments across the country, and it has been expanding like crazy. Today, in an episode of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club, how much licensing is too much? And where has this system gone especially wrong?

Around 20% of the American workforce is subject to professional licensing. The system is sanctioned by state governments across the country, and it has been expanding like crazy. Today, in an episode of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club, how much licensing is too much? And where has this system gone especially wrong?