Stephen Dubner

Why do licensing boards rarely hear directly from the patients of doctors, the clients of lawyers? I don't know. Maybe someone whose haircut went terribly wrong.

Why do licensing boards rarely hear directly from the patients of doctors, the clients of lawyers? I don't know. Maybe someone whose haircut went terribly wrong.

Why do licensing boards rarely hear directly from the patients of doctors, the clients of lawyers? I don't know. Maybe someone whose haircut went terribly wrong.

Like selling opioids.

Like selling opioids.

Like selling opioids.

Can anyone look up licensing board disciplinary action or investigative action on their lawyer, doctor, etc., etc. ?

Can anyone look up licensing board disciplinary action or investigative action on their lawyer, doctor, etc., etc. ?

Can anyone look up licensing board disciplinary action or investigative action on their lawyer, doctor, etc., etc. ?

And how do you feel about that as a lawyer yourself?

And how do you feel about that as a lawyer yourself?

And how do you feel about that as a lawyer yourself?

Is he a practicing lawyer?

Is he a practicing lawyer?

Is he a practicing lawyer?

Remember, Rebecca Allensworth believes that the licensing racket, as she calls it, has two main flaws. It protects bad actors, which is what we've been hearing about so far, but also that it keeps too many good people out of the occupations they would like to join.

Remember, Rebecca Allensworth believes that the licensing racket, as she calls it, has two main flaws. It protects bad actors, which is what we've been hearing about so far, but also that it keeps too many good people out of the occupations they would like to join.

Remember, Rebecca Allensworth believes that the licensing racket, as she calls it, has two main flaws. It protects bad actors, which is what we've been hearing about so far, but also that it keeps too many good people out of the occupations they would like to join.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio. We'll be right back. The legal scholar Rebecca Allensworth spent years investigating the power, reach and shortcomings of professional licensing boards. Here's how she puts it in her book, The Licensing Racket. When it came to barriers to entry and restrictions on practice, boards went too far.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio. We'll be right back. The legal scholar Rebecca Allensworth spent years investigating the power, reach and shortcomings of professional licensing boards. Here's how she puts it in her book, The Licensing Racket. When it came to barriers to entry and restrictions on practice, boards went too far.