Analyzing Occupational Licensing Across Nations

Jonathan S. Hartley and Morris M. Kleiner

No 35424, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Relatively little is known about occupational licensing across nations. We assemble harmonized estimates of licensing prevalence for 44 countries using nationally representative surveys, including new surveys for previously unstudied countries. Licensing ranges from roughly 14 percent of workers in Denmark to more than 40 percent in India and South Africa. Licensed workers earn 6 to 19 percent higher wages than comparable unlicensed workers across specifications. Licensing prevalence is negatively associated with GDP per capita and governance quality, and positively associated with informal employment, suggesting occupational licensing is intertwined with labor market efficiency, formalization, and long-run economic development.

JEL-codes: J31 J44 J48 J8 K23 O15 O43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-07
Note: LS
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