MINIMUM-WAGES AND THE WESSELS EFFECT IN A MONOPSONY MODEL

The Wessels model suggests that firms respond to increases in the mini mum wage rate by decreasing the level of fringe benefits - an action w hich produces an inefficiency effect that lowers workers' utility and the supply of labor Standard models of monopsony, however argue that w age floors prevent the exercise of market power and increase employmen t. I show that wage floors, even with fringe benefit curtailment, may increase employment by lowering the marginal expense of labor Employee utility and employment will rise somewhat but not as much had the fir m acted competitively in setting both wages and fringes.