Unnecessary Occupational Licensing Could Limit Competition Online and Off, Says Ohlhausen
Overregulation in state licensing for certain professions could hamper online commerce, especially when it benefits incumbents or those "afraid of change," said acting FTC Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen at an Internet Governance Forum USA event Monday. Ohlhausen said her Economic Liberty…
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Task Force (see 1702170026 and 1703160032), which plans a public discussion Thursday, will talk about approaches for license portability and job mobility. Regulations are needed for some occupations, but there's "strong evidence" most occupational licenses are unnecessary, she said. In Texas, Ohlhausen said the FTC supported a telemedicine company's lawsuit against a state rule that required an in-person meeting between a patient and doctor, which the company said was anticompetitive. In May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a law removing the requirement, ending the lawsuit, but Ohlhausen said there are other examples, such as unnecessary regulation of ride-hailing. More regulation doesn't make consumers better off, she said: "If everyone has to have the Cadillac to drive on the internet road what about the people who can’t afford it, who are going to be walking, who’ll be worse off?"