Towards a new understanding of occupational liberalisation

The lifting of entry requirements to the craft trades in Norway during the 1980s

Bibliographic Data

ID22410225
AuthorsPer Bonde Hansen (OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-21
Publication date2026-06-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBusiness History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-6791 • E-ISSN: 1743-7938
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00076791.2026.2681474
OpenAlexW7165553586
LanguageEN
References cited32

Licensing, a government regulation requiring a permission to enter an occupation, is a significant institution in contemporary labour markets. Attempts to explain regulatory change in terms of the passage and removal of licensing legislation are, however, few and tend to focus narrowly on decision-makers as agents guided by interest groups and public interests. This article examines the lifting of licensing requirements within the craft trades in Norway during the 1980s, shifting the maintenance of skills to market mechanisms. I argue for a broader qualitative approach that is sensitive to how regulatory changes unfold within specific historical contexts, drawing on various action-theoretical lenses to interpret historical documents. I demonstrate that the liberalisation was primarily driven by a (neo)liberal agenda favouring market mechanisms and competition over state control. Additionally, issues with existing regulations, and the declining importance of craft production must be considered to fully understand this shift.

Competition (biology) · Craft · Government (linguistics) · Institution · Legislation · Liberalization · Public policy · State (computer science) · Labor market dynamics and wage inequality · Labor Movements and Unions · Occupational and Professional Licensing Regulation

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