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An Anatomy of Monopsony: Search Frictions, Amenities and Bargaining in Concentrated Markets

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  • David W. Berger
  • Kyle F. Herkenhoff
  • Andreas R. Kostøl
  • Simon Mongey

Abstract

We contribute a theory in which three channels interact to determine the degree of monopsony power and therefore the wedge between a worker’s spot wage and her marginal product (henceforth, the wage markdown): (1) heterogeneity in worker-firm-specific preferences (nonwage amenities), (2) firm granularity, and (3) off- and on-the-job search frictions. We use Norwegian data to discipline each channel and then reproduce novel reduced-form empirical relationships between market concentration, job flows, wages and wage inequality. Our main exercise quantifies the contribution of each channel to income inequality and wage markdowns. The markdowns are 21 percent in our baseline estimation. Removing nonwage amenity dispersion narrows them by a third. Giving the next-lowest-ranked competitor a seat at the bargaining table narrows them by half. Removing search frictions narrows them by two-thirds. Each counterfactual shows decreased wage inequality and increased welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Berger & Kyle F. Herkenhoff & Andreas R. Kostøl & Simon Mongey, 2023. "An Anatomy of Monopsony: Search Frictions, Amenities and Bargaining in Concentrated Markets," NBER Working Papers 31149, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31149
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    Cited by:

    1. Dalmazzo, Alberto & Leombruni, Roberto & Razzolini, Tiziano, 2023. "Anticipation Effects of EU Accession on Immigrants' Labour Market Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 16614, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Berger, David & Hasenzagl, Thomas & Herkenhoff, Kyle & Mongey, Simon & Posner, Eric A., 2023. "Comments on the 2023 Draft Merger Guidelines: A Labor Market Perspective," IZA Discussion Papers 16401, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Francesco Amodio & Emanuele Brancati & Peter Brummond & Nicolas de Roux & Michele Di Maio, 2024. "Global Labor Market Power," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2404, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J42 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Monopsony; Segmented Labor Markets

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