Foreign Professionals and Domestic Regulation

Mattoo, Aaditya ; Mishra, Deepak

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCREDITATION;    ARCHITECT;    ARCHITECTS;    ARCHITECTURE;    BARRIERS TO ENTRY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4782
RP-ID  :  WPS4782

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Changes in demographics and patterns ofinvestment in human capital are creating increased scope forinternational trade in professional services. The scope formutually beneficial trade is, however, inhibited not only byquotas and discriminatory taxation, but also by domesticregulation - including a range of qualification andlicensing requirements and procedures. To illustrate thenature and implications of these regulatory impediments,this paper presents a detailed description of the regulatoryrequirements faced in the United States market by four typesof Indian professionals:doctors, engineers, architects,and accountants. India is one of the largest exporters ofskilled services, and the United States is one of thelargest importers of skilled services, so these twocountries reflect broader global trends. The paper arguesthat regulatory discrimination, for example throughpreferential recognition agreements, has implications bothfor the pattern of trade and for welfare. It presents someillustrative estimates that suggest the economic cost ofregulations may be substantial. The paper concludes byexamining how the trade-inhibiting impact of regulatoryrequirements could be addressed through bilateral andmultilateral negotiations.