insurance, Microeconomics

Assignment Help:
#question.Question: Answer all parts (a, b, c, d, e & f).

Consider the following insurance market. There are two states of the world, B and G, and two types of consumers, H and L, who have probabilities pH =0.5 and pL =0.25 (high and low risk) respectively of being in state B. They have common endowment e=(eG,eB) = (£900, £100). The individuals have expected utility preferences over state-contingent consumptions c=(cG,cB), with common utility function u(ci)=ln(ci), where i=B,G. Insurance firms are risk-neutral profit maximisers and offer contracts in exchange for the individuals’ endowments.

Suppose the market is competitive.

a) Outline the definition of a competitive equilibrium of this market and explain why every contract, offered by every firm, must earn zero profit in equilibrium. [7 marks]

b) Suppose the information concerning individuals’ types is symmetric, but void. It is commonly known, however, that the proportion of low risk consumers is 0.4. Derive the equilibrium set of contracts. [5 marks]

c) Find the equilibrium set of contracts when information is symmetric and perfect. [5 marks]

Now suppose that information is asymmetric; individuals know their own type but insurance firms cannot distinguish between types. (Note: there does exist an equilibrium set of contracts for this market. You may make use of this fact without proving it).

d) Explain why it must be that, if {cH,cL} is the equilibrium set of contracts, then
cH ? cL. [4 marks]

e) Explain and derive the equilibrium contract offered to high risk individuals. [3 marks]

f) Explain and derive the equilibrium contract offered to low risk individuals. [9 marks]

Related Discussions:- insurance

Inflation and unemployment, Inflation And Unemployment: Inflation desc...

Inflation And Unemployment: Inflation describes a persistent and an appreciable increase in the general price level. The inflation rate is measured as a percentage change in a

The state of confidence in conventional judgements, The State of Confidence...

The State of Confidence in Conventional Judgements : While individuals fall back on conventions to guide their behaviour in the face of uncertainty, they are also aware that th

Future directions - economic policies, FUTURE DIRECTIONS: It is often ...

FUTURE DIRECTIONS: It is often said that the difficult things are the beautiful things, and if they are as vital for healthy national development as an economy, society and po

What are the determinants of income elasticity of demand, What are the dete...

What are the determinants of income elasticity of demand?  There are three determinants of income elasticity of demand. These are: Degree of necessity of a good: In a developed

Supply, composite supply v/s joint supply

composite supply v/s joint supply

Supply, concept of supply

concept of supply

Explain why each of the following factors may influence the, Ask qExplain w...

Ask qExplain why each of the following factors may influence the own price elasticity of demand for a commodity. (i) Consumer preferences, that is, whether consumers regard the com

Substitution effect, Substitution Effect -  The  substitution effect is...

Substitution Effect -  The  substitution effect is change in an item's consumption associated with the change in the price of the item, level of utility held constant. -  Wh

Cost, Relatiön between TC ,TFC and TVC

Relatiön between TC ,TFC and TVC

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd