There many ways to use government for self-enrichment, including political patronage and outright fraud. But one form that often escapes the attention of even consumer advocates and “good government” watchdogs is self-serving government regulation.

Over 160 years ago, Frenchman Frederick Bastiat wrote the satirical Petition of the Candlemakers, who asked the French government to protect domestic industry by regulating the light of the sun.

The spirit of self-enrichment continues to this day. People who wish to work as snowboard instructors in France must first be certified as ski instructors. Though the sports are related, they are different, so the requirement gives an economic advantage to long-time ski instructors. Since Britain and Germany have their own organizations for certifying snowboard instructors, the ski-first, snowboard-later rule also favors French nationals over British and German ones, contrary to the spirit and rules of the European Union.

Happily for British and German snowboarders who wish to earn a few Euros by teaching their enthusiasm in les Alpes françaises, the European Commission has ruled against France.

Freedom for would-be instructors to ply their trade, and the prospect of lower prices for consumers. The European Commission got it right on this one.