Monopsony power, offshoring, and a European minimum wage

B-Tier
Journal: Review of International Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Pages: 78-98

Authors (3)

Hartmut Egger (not in RePEc) Udo Kreickemeier (Georg-August-Universität Götti...) Jens Wrona (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper sets up a two‐country model of offshoring with monopolistically competitive product and monopsonistically competitive labor markets. In our model, an incentive for offshoring exists even between symmetric countries, because shifting part of the production abroad reduces local labor demand and allows firms to more strongly execute their monopsonistic labor market power. However, offshoring between symmetric countries has negative welfare effects and therefore calls for policy intervention. In this context, we put forward the role of a common minimum wage and show that the introduction of a moderate minimum wage increases offshoring and reduces welfare. In contrast, a sizable minimum wage reduces offshoring and increases welfare. Beyond that, we also show that a sufficiently high common minimum wage cannot only eliminate offshoring but also inefficiencies in the resource allocation due to monopsonistic labor market distortions in closed economies.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:reviec:v:33:y:2025:i:1:p:78-98
Journal Field
International
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25