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

Why concept of elasticity is important in economics, Why concept of Elastic...

Why concept of Elasticity is important in economics?  Elasticity is very important concept in economics because it affects the decision of individuals as well as of the whole e

Laspeyres index, Laspeyres index The Laspeyres index tells us that: ...

Laspeyres index The Laspeyres index tells us that: - The amount of money at present year prices which an individual requires to purchase bundle of goods and services which w

What is tradeable product, Q. What is Tradeable product? Tradeable:A pr...

Q. What is Tradeable product? Tradeable:A product (a service or good) is tradeable if its purchaser can purchase it far away from the place where it is produced. Most goods (ot

Draw a supply or demand diagram of the treasury bond market, 1) A) Suppose ...

1) A) Suppose that several months of data showed the CPI increasing at a 4.5% annual rate due largely to increases in the price of energy and food related commodities following sev

Uses of balance of payments account, Uses of Balance of payments account: ...

Uses of Balance of payments account: It removes the uncertainty associated with the flexible exchange rate regime and brings stability. It also indirectly imposes some anti inf

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