The Midland Daily News published an op-ed this week by Mackinac Center policy analyst Jarrett Skorup about the many problems that stem from Michigan’s overbearing occupational licensing laws and what can be done to change this.

Though typically less talked about than minimum wage and right-to-work laws, government-mandated licensing requirements people must meet in order to hold a job affect more workers than those two laws combined, Skorup noted. These government rules — which include mandated training, testing and fees — hurt the economy and increase income inequality while failing to help consumers.

Skorup explained the solution is found in rejecting new licensing supported by industry insiders trying to block out competition and reviewing licensing laws already on the books to ensure they are necessary and effective. From the op-ed:

Even if a license cannot be eliminated, the state should look to other, less-stringent regulatory tools like inspections, antifraud legislation, insurance requirements, registration or optional state-approved certification. In today’s information age, where reviews and opinions of nearly every business are available instantly in the palm of our hands, do we really need state licenses to tell us if a business is any good? When’s the last time you considered whether a business had the appropriate state license when deciding if you wanted to buy its service?

 Read the full op-ed in the Midland Daily News.

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