Many occupational-licensing laws are beyond absurd, acting as barriers to employment rather than ensuring the safety and quality of license-holders’ work. In some states, you need a license to be a hair braider. In others, you need one to tell stories. The good news for reformers is that the public has become more aware of these policies’ negative effects in the wake of a 2015 White House report that called for licensing reform. The Federal Trade Commission also has been working to shed light on the issue, making occupational licensing the focus of its July 27 Economic Liberty Task Force roundtable. FULL ARTICLE