OCCUPATIONAL POWER, STATE CAPACITIES, AND THE DIFFUSION OF LICENSING IN THE AMERICAN STATES - 1890 TO 1950

I examine the contributions of occupational power state capacities, an d diffusion processes to the variation among states in licensing occup ations. Analysis of 30 occupations between 1890 and 1950 shows that oc cupational power promotes licensing legislation, but state governments also play a significant role. The state's role differs by type of occ upation. Licensing legislation diffuses across states for specific occ upations. These findings raise questions for perspectives that treat l icensing as undifferentiated and see the state as a captive of industr y and occupational groups.