A recent major study by Brookings found that 96% of people who did not have children before the age of 21, graduated high school, and got a job soon after did not remain permanently poor. I'll just address the job question, although high school graduation and avoiding teen pregnancy are equally as important. In order to improve access to the workforce, the government should remove barriers to entry that hold down the least-skilled and least-experienced potential employees.
To see this working, head to your live site.
Search
ahardtospell
Oct 3, 2017
Free Market Cures to Poverty
Free Market Cures to Poverty
4 comments
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! What do you view these barriers to entry as?
The more politically savory ones are occupational licensing requirements, which, except for jobs that involve real health and safety concerns, block new workers from entering professions. For example, there are ludicrously long certification programs required to become florists or manicurists, among other jobs. Additionally, many of these certifications involve exorbitant fees for licenses to operate businesses, often in excess of $1,000, which is obviously a lot for a young, unemployed, or poor person attempting to enter a new profession.
I had no idea that the certification programs were that intensive! Would you recommend alternative forms of regulation, such as state certification or registration?
Interesting article on the topic - https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2016/02/24/four-ways-occupational-licensing-damages-social-mobility/
"In many cases, people who’ve been imprisoned face a lifetime ban on obtaining an occupational license...Licensing requirements impose up-front costs."