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

Calculate the concentration of standard solution, 1. A standard solution of...

1. A standard solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was prepared by dissolving 15g of KOH in 250.0mL of distilled water. (a) Calculate the concentration of this standard solution.

Economies of scope, Economies of Scope The ability of a organizati...

Economies of Scope The ability of a organization to decrease its unit costs by producing two or more products or services that involve complementary skills, experience and

Consider an upstream firm in russia that mines iron, Consider an upstream f...

Consider an upstream firm in Russia that mines iron ore at a total cost of $15 q , where q is the number of tons of ore. This upstream firm then ships ore to Germany for processi

Fit a simple linear regression model to the data, 1. Refer to the data in t...

1. Refer to the data in the file "asm2Q1.xls" on the annual number of fatalities (FATALS, y ) from gas and dust explosion in coal mines for the years 1915 to 1978 and the number o

Opportunity cost, what are the concept of opportunity cost

what are the concept of opportunity cost

Price change, 1.  Seller has ample time to adjust to price change. 2.  B...

1.  Seller has ample time to adjust to price change. 2.  Buyer's response to small price change is significant. 3.  Buyers are faced with many options when deciding to make a

Illustrate the features of a perfectly competitive firm, Question 1: (a...

Question 1: (a) Clearly illustrate the features of a perfectly competitive firm. (b) How would the same industry change if it were organized first as a competitive industr

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