The difference between productivity and wages is not fully explained by increasing benefits/health care costs, but it is something like over half the difference.
Benefits costs do a better job explaining increasing wage inequality, but again not all of it and doesn’t address what’s happening outside the US
Healthcare costs are largely driven by metabolic syndrome: the main cause of diseases of major modern civilizations. Half of Americans are on track to be pre-diabetic or diabetic by 2050.
Benefits costs do a better job explaining increasing wage inequality, but again not all of it and doesn’t address what’s happening outside the US