Occupational licensing is ostensibly intended to protect the public from unsafe and low-quality service, but there is little evidence this intention is realized. Rather, there is a growing consensus among economists that these rules serve to protect incumbent providers from competition by creating barriers for new entrants that lead to higher prices for consumers.
– Patrick McLaughlin, Matt Mitchell, Anne Philpot
In other words, rent-seeking by using the force of Government against others.
(H/T: Cafe Hayek)
