Study Reveals U.S. Consumers and Economy Lose Billions to Occupational Licensing

Re:Study Reveals U.S. Consumers and Economy Lose Billions to... by Consultant32452 on Friday December 14, 2018 @02:36PM (#18683861)

How does the difficulty of the trade imply the need for state enforced certification?

In my personal opinion, I'm happy to rely on the reputation of a branded salon/barber shop/individual stylist. I've had both good hair cuts and bad hair cuts from state certified barbers. As far as I can tell the state doesn't provide any value to me other than limiting my choices. To the extent we might be concerned about poor people cutting people's hair without the state's permission, and doing so with non-optimum sanitary practices... well... poor people are already doing this and it doesn't seem to be causing any real public health crisis. I say we give it a shot in some locales and see what happens.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Study Reveals U.S. Consumers and Economy Lose Billions to... by mcguire on Friday December 14, 2018 @09:07PM (#18686592)

I'll wager you also haven't had chemical burns to your scalp, either. Weirdly, there was just a thread on Berkson's paradox: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18667423

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Study Reveals U.S. Consumers and Economy Lose Billions to... by Consultant32452 on Saturday December 15, 2018 @03:48AM (#18687677)

I feel like this is a bias first world people have. I grew up poor, got plenty of haircuts from "a lady in the neighborhood" and never got chemical burns on my scalp, never had lice, etc. Sure, anecdata, but travel to basically any third world country where regulation is either nonexistent or unenforceable. Countless people do this every year. These things just aren't a real problem. You can get a haircut, you can get street food, etc. Basically just eat where the locals are eating and be careful about water/drinks that haven't been boiled. In other words, drink hot tea instead of water, or bottled stuff.

[ Parent | on HN ]