Job Market Signaling through Occupational Licensing

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Blair, Peter Q.; Chung, Bobby W.
• 署名单位: Harvard University; National Bureau of Economic Research; State University System of Florida; University of South Florida
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01265
• 发表日期: 2025-03
• 页码: 338-354
• 关键词: white men; policies; ban; box

摘要

Among men, the Black-White wage gap is as large today as it was in 1950. We test whether this gap is due to asymmetric information using newly collected data on occupational licensing laws that ban workers with criminal records. We find evidence supporting this hypothesis. The licensing premiums for Black men are largest in licensed occupations that restrict felons, particularly in states with banthe-box laws and at small businesses. In these contexts where a worker's criminal history is difficult to infer, we find that occupational licensing reduces asymmetric information and reduces the racial wage gap.