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

What are the properties of consumer demand, What are the properties of cons...

What are the properties of consumer demand? Properties of Consumer Demand: In this section check the comparative statics of consumer demand behaviour as: how the demand of cons

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

What are the goal of sustainability, The goal of sustainability requires th...

The goal of sustainability requires that we address what three questions? The goal of sustainability needs that we address whether economic activities are financially sustainab

Equilibruim, I want to know all about equilibruim consumer equilibruim firm...

I want to know all about equilibruim consumer equilibruim firms equilibruim nd market equilibruim technically also??

Agriculture development, Visit to a village panchayat for agriculture base...

Visit to a village panchayat for agriculture based project

Calculate the traditional net present value, Fiera Corporation is evaluatin...

Fiera Corporation is evaluating a new project that costs $45,000.  The project will be financed using 40% debt and 60% equity, thus maintaining the firm's current debt-to-equity ra

Calculate production-prize and profit, Consider a television manufacturer b...

Consider a television manufacturer based in Korea. It produces TVs in Korea at a total cost of Y 2 + 2 Y where Y is the number of televisions they produce in Korea. It can als

Maneferial, Plot the demand schedule and draw the demand curve for the data...

Plot the demand schedule and draw the demand curve for the data given for Marijuana

Economic profit in a monopoly 2006 ap exam, is it just assumed that a monop...

is it just assumed that a monopoly graph is showing economic profit instead of accounting profit

Market Penetration, Market Penetration: Indian entrepreneurs have to ...

Market Penetration: Indian entrepreneurs have to constantly bear in mind the fast changing trade trends and re-orient their strategies to derive higher yields by way of large

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