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

Returns to scale, describe returns to scale and give examples of each.

describe returns to scale and give examples of each.

Company, what the company do?

what the company do?

What determines the price elasticity of demand, Question 1: i) Elaborat...

Question 1: i) Elaborate on the different types of price discrimination that a monopolist may use and what are the required preconditions for its application? ii) What dete

Milk, The price of milk is usually much less expensive in a grocery store v...

The price of milk is usually much less expensive in a grocery store versus a convenience store. Using economic terminology, explain why people purchase milk at convenience stores.

Demography, This involves the characteristics of the production human as we...

This involves the characteristics of the production human as well as non human using the product concerned. For example it may pertain to the number and characteristics of children

Determine the profit maximizing price and quantity, Determine the profit ma...

Determine the profit maximizing price and quantity A firm has segmented its market into the following demand functions: P1 = 500 – 50Q     P2 = 500 – 20Q     with a cost fu

Explain key assumptions and desired properties, Explain the key assumptions...

Explain the key assumptions and desired properties commonly used economics. Economists generally make all or some of the given key assumptions and a condition while they study

Oligopoly, characteristics and models of oligopoly by Sweezy,cournot and ed...

characteristics and models of oligopoly by Sweezy,cournot and edgework

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