Andre LaRenzie, Chapter 8, Question #6

In chapter 8 of "Naked Economics", Charles Wheelan speaks on the topic of the power of organized  interests. In particular he speaks about the licensing of teachers. Existing teachers highly advocate to have stricter regulations regarding the up and coming teachers. Of course these regulations would be exempt from existing teachers. This would ultimately lower the number of teachers across the area, leaving benefits for the existing teachers. (Benefits unknown, if I missed discussion on the benefits of having a smaller number of teachers, please comment.) The author states that when Albert Einstein came to New Jersey, he wouldn't of been able to teach high school physics because he did not have a license. Which I found preposterous. Next, the author went into collected data in which he concluded that 1) good teachers matter, and 2) Certification doesn't matter. This leaves to point out that teachers who advocate for raising regulations on licensing students who aspire to be teachers, are only looking at benefits for themselves, and not as a society. I found this interesting, because teachers are said to be the most important part about the structure of America, but by this topic, it seems as if that some teachers only think in self interest. Which is appalling and surprising to me. I am not saying you are like that Mr. Hoffner.