“Started with the Nixonian wage-price controls when suddenly “health insurance” appeared in every compensation pacakage.”
You’re right about wage and price controls being at the root of it but IIRC employer provided health insurance dates back to WWII.
Wartime wage and price controls prevented companies from increasing pay, so in order to attract more workers they began using benefits to get around them.
Wage & price controls pretty much fell out of fashion postwar until Nixon revived them in his belief that it would halt inflation, which of course it didn’t. It did set the stage for the Carter stagflation misery.
I’m wondering if we are going to see them tried again as the Biden administration drives the economy over a cliff.
My favorite quote from Proverbs:
“As a dog returns to its vomit so the fool continues in his folly”.