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

Gross domestic product - deflator, Gross Domestic Product, Deflator: A pric...

Gross Domestic Product, Deflator: A price index that adjusts the overall value of GDP according to average increase in the prices of all output. GDP deflator equals the ratio of no

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

Gdp problems, 1.       Why does inflation make nominal GDP a poor measure o...

1.       Why does inflation make nominal GDP a poor measure of the increase in total production from one to the next? How does the U.S' BEA deal with the problem inflation causes w

Cost function, what are the properties of cost function

what are the properties of cost function

Calculate real gdp using the chained-dollar method, Why in 1996 did the BEA...

Why in 1996 did the BEA switch to calculate real GDP using the "chained-dollar method" from the "constant-dollar method"? The BEA made the switch from the constant-dollar metho

Determine the dividend yield and current stock price, The Bloomington Elect...

The Bloomington Electric Company operates in a stable industry and therefore has predictable dividend growth of 8% per year. The most recent annual dividend was paid yesterday in t

Mankiw principles of microeconomics 7th edition, Lovers of classical music ...

Lovers of classical music persuade Congress to impose a price ceiling of $40 per concert ticket.

Collective opinion method, This is also known as sales force Opinion Method...

This is also known as sales force Opinion Method. In this method instead of consumers the opinion of the salesmen is sought. It is sometimes referred as the grassroots approach as

Trends of national income, TRENDS OF NATIONAL INCOME: Estimates relati...

TRENDS OF NATIONAL INCOME: Estimates relating to India's national income and per capita income are available to us for each of the years beginning 1950-51. These estimates are

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