Towards a new understanding of occupational liberalisation: The lifting of entry requirements to the craft trades in Norway during the 1980s

Licensing, a government regulation requiring a permission to enter an occupation, is a significant institution in contemporary labour markets. Attempts to explain regulatory change in terms of the passage and removal of licensing legislation are, however, few and tend to focus narrowly on decision-makers as agents guided by interest groups and public interests. This article examines the lifting of licensing requirements within the craft trades in Norway during the 1980s, shifting the maintenance of skills to market mechanisms. I argue for a broader qualitative approach that is sensitive to how regulatory changes unfold within specific historical contexts, drawing on various action-theoretical lenses to interpret historical documents. I demonstrate that the liberalisation was primarily driven by a (neo)liberal agenda favouring market mechanisms and competition over state control. Additionally, issues with existing regulations, and the declining importance of craft production must be considered to fully understand this shift.