occupational licensing

Libertas has long documented the detrimental effects of occupational licensing. This form of government regulation stifles economies and creates a stringent, artificial class system via economic protectionism. Unfortunately, in conversations relating to reforming occupational licensing laws, many overlook solutions outside of simply slashing various licensing requirements.
Picture this. A young man falls into poverty and, out of desperation, resorts to petty theft in order to help feed his family. He gets caught and is sentenced to a few months in prison as punishment for committing a Class B misdemeanor.
In the US, the unacceptable reality for many professionals is that a trip to the therapist could put them out of a job.
Despite having a large medical infrastructure, Utah is struggling to meet the health care needs of its residents. Much of this inability can be attributed to a lack of healthcare workers able to provide patient care within the state. 
The Beehive State has a longstanding problem with mental health. In 2019, Utah ranked sixth highest in the nation for its age-adjusted suicide rate, and it is currently the leading cause of death for Utah teenagers.
There is a type of monopoly out there that is escaping the attention of lawmakers, and no, it's not tech monopolies that frequently swirl into public discourse. Instead, as Reason writes, it is an “antagonistic, state-empowered monopol[y].” Specifically, the type of state-sponsored monopoly Reason highlights takes the form of an occupational licensing board. 

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