FREEDOM TO WORK: Texas Supreme Court Strikes Blow Against Licensing.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court ruled against the cosmetology license requirement for eyebrow threaders on the grounds that it “is not just unreasonable or harsh, but it is so oppressive that it violates” the Texas State Constitution.

Volokh explains that courts have generally given legislatures and administrative agencies very broad leeway to enact economic regulations like this one. However, the court found that the Texas Constitution protects a basic right to economic liberty and decided to apply a higher level of scrutiny. . . .

Too often, licensing rules are nothing more than a mechanism for the dominant players in an industry to shield themselves from competition—suppressing jobs (especially for the poor or undercapitalized), raising prices, and stifling creativity along the way.

Well, now that the Supreme Court is endorsing “dignity” as a right, maybe economic freedom should follow.