This was not the first time my employer had raised such a question; indeed, it seems to be something which genuinely troubles him.

Economists say that employers would raise wages if they did not have to pay for employee health care.

Inflation eventually rises as employers raise prices to pay for the higher labor costs.

Other employers have raised pay or dangled new perks like training programs.

But it is also true that some employers raise the bar enough to prevent or discourage their own workers from getting the insurance they do offer.

The employer smiled at them and raised a dull black automatic.

But with the jobless rate so low, employers will likely raise wages to attract workers, putting upward pressure on prices.

Not every employer of low-end workers is raising wages, of course.

Many employers have also raised the deductible, the amount that employees must pay before insurance takes over.

In fact, employers raise productivity only when, and only to the extent that, they must.