The reorganization of the professions by regulation

This paper briefly notes recent efforts at regulating the professions, distinguishing regulation by the market, by the bureaucracy and by collegial mandate. It attempts to assess regulation by first evaluating and then rejecting the theories of deprofessionalization and of proletarianization. This paper suggests that while the essential corporate autonomy of professions is not being affected by regulatory activities, traditionally “free” professions like law, medicine, and dentistry are being reorganized into a formal system of stratification. Consequently, a formal professional elite is being created that develops standards enforced to govern the performance of the rank-and-file professional worker. Possible consequences are briefly discussed.