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

#title., comprehensively discuss the market structure in the South African ...

comprehensively discuss the market structure in the South African mobile telecommunication industry

#title.demand and supply ., a. Determine Australia’s market equilibrium ...

a. Determine Australia’s market equilibrium for TV sets. i. (1) What are the equilibrium price and quantity?

Supply of labour, what is the influence of an increase of migrants on the m...

what is the influence of an increase of migrants on the market supply labour

Research methods in economics, What is an index number?compile a chart of t...

What is an index number?compile a chart of the types of consumer price index numbers showing-the agency who prepares it,index formula,target group,groups of items covered and the w

Indirect Utility Function., M.Phil. Admission Test, 2017 Economics Model Qu...

M.Phil. Admission Test, 2017 Economics Model Question Group A Domain Knowledge in Economics Correct answer is as marked in black. Micro Economics 1. Consider a utility function U =

#Monopoly, How to prepare an assignment of Monopoly in economics#Minimum 10...

How to prepare an assignment of Monopoly in economics#Minimum 100 words accepted#

Volume of trade, Volume of Trade: It relates to the size of internatio...

Volume of Trade: It relates to the size of international transactions. Since a large number of commodities enter in international transactions and their aggregate can be found

Depreciation tax shield, Depreciation T ax Shield The decr...

Depreciation T ax Shield The decrease in corporate income taxes suitable to the deductibility of depreciation from the firm's taxable earnings.  Although depreciat

Supply, The table shows the demand schedule of Taylor Swift’s concert ticke...

The table shows the demand schedule of Taylor Swift’s concert ticket. Draw the demand curve for her concert ticket

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