Microeconomics
For anyone interested, Massachusetts' Division of Professional Licensure can be your entry into the exciting career field of Elevator Operator. You must pay a processing fee of $25, allow access to your driver's license, provide a description of your "work experience in elevators," and (I am not making this up) pass an exam, which I assume goes beyond knowing what maybe six buttons do.
Presumably, the licensing process protects consumers (who, obviously, can make mistakes); given the information presented this week, aside from ensuring high-quality elevator services, why else might existing elevator operators find it in their interest to protect the licensing system? What side effects might the fees introduce into the elevator-operator market?
Microeconomics
For anyone interested, Massachusetts' Division of Professional Licensure can be your entry into the exciting career field of Elevator Operator. You must pay a processing fee of $25, allow access to your driver's license, provide a description of your work experience in elevators, and (I am not making this up) pass an exam, which I assume goes beyond knowing what maybe six buttons do. Presumably, the licensing process protects consumers (who, obviously, can make mistakes): given the information presented this week, aside from ensuring high-quality elevator services, why else might existing elevator operators find it in their interest to protect the licensing system? What side effects might the fees introduce into the elevator-operator market?