Calling All Interns: Introducing the SMI Free-Market Question of the Week
As you may know, one of our areas of interest here at the Show-Me Institute is occupational licensing, as in: How do we get less of it? We will be publishing some great work about this very shortly. I know that it is great, because it’s mine. That aside, here is the first Show-Me Daily free-market question for our readers, staff, former interns, etc.
What is the common occupation with the absolute least amount of government involvement?
The second part: What is the most prominent occupation with the least amount of government involvement?
There are plenty of occupations that don’t involve getting a license as a precondition to work, as doctors and lawyers must do. But many of them, such as farmers or bankers, clearly involve a great deal of government contact. What is the common (legal) occupation where you deal, in any way, shape, or form with the government the least? And, along the lines of doctors, what is the most prominent occupation that does not in any way involve a government license? My answer to the second might be clergymen. I don’t have an answer yet to the first.
Fire away in the comments section. …
Answer 1) Web Comic Artist. These guys aren’t even regulated by the Comic Code Authority much less the government.
Answer 2) Rock star. You think Clapton gives a hoot what the man thinks? Guess again.
Comment by Jacob Voss — October 24, 2008 @ 4:38 p.m.
It seems that there’s a broad range of unlicensed jobs, where even when you do it badly, there’s not much government involvement. What springs to mind for me are three somewhat similar positions: Cashier, Manager, and Salesperson. Exceptions: depending on what you’re selling, sales may be licensed/regulated; if those two Harvard eggheads get their way, managers may soon be licensed; and some cashiers are in a labor union.
After checking out this 18 year old list I decided to add secretary, and what would probably be on this list now, computer programmer.
My final answer is Computer Professional. They’ve got independent certifications for networking, programming, or just proficiency, they’re indispensable to businesses(so they don’t need to unionize) and I haven’t heard of any licensing for ‘em.
As for question 2, my inclination is to point out that the law doesn’t seem to apply to many celebrities, including Hollywood types, sports stars, etc. (I am aware that this distinction has more to do with their high income and consequent access to more sophisticated legal representation.) My answer is
doctorlawyerUS Presidentaccountantcaptain of industry*sigh* Computer Programmer, again. You took the best answer, it’s definitely clergyman.Comment by Josh Smith — October 24, 2008 @ 4:53 p.m.
Poet, unless you’re a poet laureate.
Comment by Sarah Brodsky — October 24, 2008 @ 5:39 p.m.
1. metal scrapper. seriously, I know these guys. if there is a radar to fly under, theyve never heard of it.
2. does not compute. any high paying job that does not require “lucky break” to aspire to, ie if you go to college and study that profession, and do not completely suck, then you can become that profession, autoamtically brings you into close contact w govt, just bc its cost effective for them to make sure you pay taxes.
Comment by vroman — October 24, 2008 @ 7:21 p.m.
1. Late-Night comedy writer…or a writer of any sort. You think the beltway types would’ve ended the WGA strike last year earlier if they could? Hell yeah. There’s an entire caucus that didn’t know what to do every Monday because 24 wasn’t on and they couldn’t watch Kiefer violate some civil rights.
2. Law professor…at least none of mine. Crazies and their promissory estoppel…that’s not even a word.
Comment by Nick Loyal — October 24, 2008 @ 8:09 p.m.
vroman,
Could you tell some of your metal scrapper friends that St. Louis U’s campus is primed for the harvest. Seriously, on a single (thirsty) Thursday night, between Laclede’s and Humphrey’s, a metal scrapper you were refering to could become the next Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne…with out the vigilantism. I’d do it myself but on Thursday nights I’m always to busy…studying.
Comment by Original Wizard of Washington — October 25, 2008 @ 12:01 p.m.
1. Journalist.
2. Well-known journalist.
They write about the government, but don’t really have to deal with much licensing and regulations that I know of. I guess t.v. journalists have to think about FCC regulations.
Comment by Mike S. — October 25, 2008 @ 5:09 p.m.
1. Stand-up comedians. Comedy clubs such as the St. Louis House of Comedy presents a stage for whomever to say the most ribald, vulgar jokes they could think of. I mean, if this were regulated, would Michael Richards still have a license?
2. Lawyers, but not your typical lawyer. Whenever a defendant can not afford his own lawyer, the government will automatically appoint them one. Some of these appointed lawyers are scary. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them took the bar with a crayon.
Comment by Calvin H. — October 27, 2008 @ 10:18 a.m.