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

Fundamental economy problem., how a capitalist system solves the three fund...

how a capitalist system solves the three fundamental economic problems

Concept and meaning of infrastructure, CONCEPT AND MEANING OF INFRASTRUCTUR...

CONCEPT AND MEANING OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Infrastructure sectors are the backbone of a national economy. It has been commonly opined that infrastructure development is closely re

Gdp, how to write an overall introduction about gdp?

how to write an overall introduction about gdp?

Consumer behaviour, Maurice has the following utility function: U (X; Y ) =...

Maurice has the following utility function: U (X; Y ) = 20X + 80Y ?? X2 ?? 2Y 2 where X is his consumption of CDs, with a price of $1, and Y is his consumption of movie videos, wit

Technological change, Is it possible for a firm to experience a technologic...

Is it possible for a firm to experience a technological change that would increase the marginal product of labor while leaving the average product of labor unchanged?

Oligopoly, what is The most important source of oligopoly?

what is The most important source of oligopoly?

Game, Suppose that there are n bidders whose valuations vis are drawn indep...

Suppose that there are n bidders whose valuations vis are drawn independently and identically from the distribution F over [0, ?]. Describe and derive the symmetric , monotonic equ

What is the sign of the cross price elasticity, Australians are turning to ...

Australians are turning to scooters to combat escalating petrol prices. After a slump in the March quarter this year, demand for scooters was up by more than 7 per cent in the firs

Banking, what is fractional reserve and how does it affect money supply?

what is fractional reserve and how does it affect money supply?

Problem Solving, Regardless of the market structure, oligopolist and the mo...

Regardless of the market structure, oligopolist and the monopolist maximize their TR when MR=0. Do you agree?

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