In Oklahoma, one must register with the state to be a "registered interior designer". Why does the government need to regulate how I decorate my home?
Tyler H. replied:
Brad Ross in the context of professional regulation, what example speaks to the contrary? Doctors are licensed by the state and enjoy a monopoly. Dentists are licensed by the state and enjoy a monopoly. Pharmacists are licensed by the state and enjoy a monopoly. These are only a few examples, but governmental licensing of professions always results in a monopoly for the group receiving the license. This always means higher prices. It is important, however, to recognize the difference between professional licensure and anti-fraud laws. Competition requires truth on the market. The Anglo-American legal tradition has long recognized fraudulent contracts are not valid. Again, competition is what protects the consumer.
Does anyone in the Ft. Worth area know of an interior designer-person that will come tell us what colors to paint the inside of our house? We can't, ahem, agree on...