In the 2005 Virginia General Assembly, Virginia’s “estheticians”---those who give facial treatments, facial massages, skin analyses and the like---came in large numbers to the Capitol to make the case that their occupation should be licensed and regulated. To push their case, they set up treatment centers on the first floor of the major General Assembly building and gave free facials to legislators and their aides.
What are the economic arguments in favor of such licensing and regulation? What are the arguments against? If such licensing does occur, what is likely to happen to the number of estheticians that practice, the prices they charge and their average incomes?