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

Short run equilibrium - perfect competition, Short run equilibrium - Perfec...

Short run equilibrium - Perfect competition: In the short-run, the perfectly competitive firm maximizes its profit by producing output where MC=MR=P. This is shown in the diag

Cost sharing in higher education - graduate tax, Cost Sharing in Higher Edu...

Cost Sharing in Higher Education - Graduate Tax Another commonly suggested measure is to tax the employers employing educated manpower. The case for this method is made on the

Estimate all of the parameters in the saving equation, Consider a family sa...

Consider a family saving function for the population of all families in the United States: sav = β 0 + β 1 inc + β 2 hhsize + β 3 educ + β 4 age + u where hhsize is househol

Supply-and-demand, Suppose we divide Canada into three regions; the west, t...

Suppose we divide Canada into three regions; the west, the centre and the each

International econonics, Strictly give the diff. btw the theory of reciproc...

Strictly give the diff. btw the theory of reciprocal demand & theory of comparative advantage

Economical and social policy, Topic: Please choose a case study in water re...

Topic: Please choose a case study in water related area and analyse it from at least two angles (or more) by examining the technical side as well as the economical, social and poli

Economics for you, How to solve economics assignment help?

How to solve economics assignment help?

The demand for big mac, illustration for demand of big macs using indiffere...

illustration for demand of big macs using indifference curve and budget line

Theory of consumer behavior, THEORY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: It is genera...

THEORY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: It is generally observed that market aggregate demand curve for a commodity is downward sloping, given other things. Our problem is to investigate

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