The Evolution of Occupational Power

Abstract

To understand the process of how occupations amass power, English and American historical data are used to document the evolution of task boundaries between physicians and pharmacists. The ability to legally defend occupational tasks or successfully encroach on others' is taken as a measure of occupational power. Changing relationships among occupational groups, clients, and government are traced and analyzed. Occupational resources such as an optimal man-power base, formal education, type of economic base, technological improvements and, most importantly, clientele were critical factors in aiding associations to successfully lobby for protection of task domains.