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

Working capital, Working Capital: A business requires a certain revolving f...

Working Capital: A business requires a certain revolving fund of finance to pay for regular purchases of initial labour, raw materials and other inputs to production. Working capit

Money demand function, what are the values of real money supply and the cur...

what are the values of real money supply and the current price level

Marginal Cost, Can marginal cost be constant? If so, does this mean that ma...

Can marginal cost be constant? If so, does this mean that marginal cost are equal to average variable cost?

MARKET TARGETING STATERGIES, A MANUFACTURING UNIT IS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPI...

A MANUFACTURING UNIT IS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING A BENEFIT SEGMENTATION OF THE CAMERA MARKET. SUGGEST SOME MAJOR BENEFIT SEGMENT WITH MARKET TARGETING STRATEGIES?

How have economists traditionally defined economic growth, How have economi...

How have economists traditionally defined "economic growth," and how is that different from "living standards growth"?  Economists have traditionally explained economic growth

Define structural isomers and its types, Define structural isomers and its ...

Define structural isomers and its types Coordination compounds that having same compositions but the different bonding attachments. Types of structural isomers Hydration isomers

Consumer''s eqillibrium, a consumer consumes only two goods x and y is in e...

a consumer consumes only two goods x and y is in eqillibrium price of x falls explain the reaction of consumer through utility analysis

Marginal cost curve, "Dr. Arata Kochi, the World Health Organisation malari...

"Dr. Arata Kochi, the World Health Organisation malaria chief,... [says that] eradication is counterproductive. With enough money, he said, current tools like nets, medicines and D

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