Making pandemic-related occupational license reform permanent

Whatever changes to life, social norms and civil and economic liberty that COVID-19 ultimately leaves in its wake, there's one potential outcome that many would like to see: the end of occupational licensing.

So far, the crisis has inspired at least some suspension of barriers to the movement of doctors and nurses across state lines. That's just the beginning of what should become permanent changes, says Stephen Slivinski, senior research fellow for Arizona State University's Center for the Study of Economic Liberty.

"We will learn many lessons as a result of this period in history," Slivinski said. "Hopefully one of them will be the benefits of a reduction in the barriers that occupational licensing policies create — not just today in the fight against the coronavirus, but in the future as a means to increase human well-being."

The ASU scholar's work helped to inspire both the Obama and Trump administrations to seek not just licensing reciprocity, but to roll back licensing requirements in their entirety for many jobs.