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Lowering the Bar to Raise the Bar: Licensing Difficulty and Attorney Quality in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • J. Mark Ramseyer

    (Harvard Law School)

  • Eric Rasmusen

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

Abstract

Under certain circumstance, a relaxation in occupational licensing standards can increase the quality of those who enter the industry. The effect turns on the opportunity costs of preparing for the licensing examination: making the test easier can increase the quality of those passing if it lowers the opportunity costs enough to increase the number of those willing to go to the trouble of taking the test. We explore the theoretical circumstances under which this can occur and the actual effect of the relaxation of the difficulty of the bar exam in Japan from 1992 to 2011.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Mark Ramseyer & Eric Rasmusen, 2013. "Lowering the Bar to Raise the Bar: Licensing Difficulty and Attorney Quality in Japan," Working Papers 2013-12, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iuk:wpaper:2013-12
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    File URL: http://kelley.iu.edu/riharbau/RePEc/iuk/wpaper/bepp2013-12-ramseyer-rasmusen.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L0 - Industrial Organization - - General
    • K00 - Law and Economics - - General - - - General (including Data Sources and Description)
    • K10 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - General (Constitutional Law)
    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law
    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law

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