[untenured]

In some occupations that might be OK, but I don’t understand how that would work in occupations where there is a public interest in ensuring the competency of the people who are involved.

Charles Murray suggested retaining the current licensing process, but making it merely an option for someone who wants to practice a trade. People who get licenses could say that to potential customers, and people who don't couldn't. That way we eliminate the cartel problem of licensing, while retaining its alleged quality-enhancing effects.

It would be interesting to see how much customers value obtaining a license. Maybe a lot, maybe not so much.

[Alberta's Child]

That would be OK, but I'm referring to cases where it's not the customer who needs to be protected as much as the general public. It sounds great if a homeowner has the right to use licensed or unlicensed contractors to do electrical work or installing gas lines on his house, but there's a major risk to his next-door neighbors that clashes with this libertarian approach.