Do Tougher Licensing Provisions Limit Occupational Entry? The Case of Dentistry / Morris M. Kleiner, Robert T. Kudrle.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kleiner, Morris M.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Kudrle, Robert T.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w3984.

NBER working paper series no. w3984

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 1992.

Summary:

The effect of licensing as a mechanism to control entry into occupations has been a neglected area of both regulation and labor market research. This study examines the role of occupational licensing for entry into dentistry, an occupation with standards that vary by state. Our research first closely replicates Freeman's previous work on labor market cobwebs by employing national data to examine purely market phenomena in the determination of training for the dental profession. We subsequently approximate the government barrier to practice in the profession by adding a weighted average state examination pass rate to the previous model. Next, we employ pooled cross-section time series analysis to explore market determinants of professional entry with state level data. Finally, these results are supplemented by measures of statutory and pass rate entry restrictiveness. Our most consistent evidence suggests that a higher state licensing failure rate deters entry into dental practice.

Notes:

Print version record

February 1992.