Microeconomics, Microeconomics

Assignment Help:
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:- Microeconomics

Concept of stock replenishment, Concept of Stock Replenishment  This c...

Concept of Stock Replenishment  This concept assumes that stock is always available whether there is demand or not. Consider the demand for constituent items, such as componen

Features of bureaucracy, Features of bureaucracy: Impersonal Order: ...

Features of bureaucracy: Impersonal Order: The authority is inherent in the post and not the individual who performs the official role. An official is supposed to have a det

Homework, Do not submit more than 1 file in the Canvas submission link. A f...

Do not submit more than 1 file in the Canvas submission link. A few years ago peanut farmers in India experienced a super-bumper crop due to favorable weather conditions. Initially

Define important functions are performed by the price system, What two impo...

What two important functions are performed by the price system? (1) The price system is an automatic method for distributing goods and services. (2) The price system defines t

Elasticity, elasticity concept in policy formulation

elasticity concept in policy formulation

Demand Forecasting, what is demand forecasting and defines its techniques

what is demand forecasting and defines its techniques

Excess capacity, the prevalence of excess capacity is the direct consequenc...

the prevalence of excess capacity is the direct consequence of the existence of monopolistic competition

Curvature of the iso-quant, Curvature of the Iso-quant: An iso-qunat i...

Curvature of the Iso-quant: An iso-qunat is convex to the origin. This is so because as more and more units labour are employed, the producer would prefer to give up less and

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