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

Demand forecasting, what will be the possible concequences if a large scale...

what will be the possible concequences if a large scale like Toyota place its new product in Indian market without having forecast the demand for its product

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION TYPES, Pollutant Any substance, species produc...

Pollutant Any substance, species produced either by a natural source or by human activity, which produces very adverse effect on the environment is called pollutant. Some commo

Game theory, The following represents the potential outcomes of your first ...

The following represents the potential outcomes of your first salary negotiation after graduation: Assuming this is a sequential move game with the employer moving first, indicate

H.W. help, Suppose the price of printing paper for digital cameras has rece...

Suppose the price of printing paper for digital cameras has recently risen by 10 percent due to an increase in the cost of materials used in the finish for the paper. As a result,

Compare traditional modern and engineering cost theory, compare traditional...

compare traditional modern and engineering cost curves

Revenue and profit maximization, Revenue and Profit Maximization: When...

Revenue and Profit Maximization: Whenever a good is produced, the individual firm which has produced incurs costs which are are referred to as private costs and the society in

Money multiplier, Should the bank not have anyone to lend the demand deposi...

Should the bank not have anyone to lend the demand deposit to (like that will ever happen) would the size of the money multiplier decrease? If so, why?

Sylos labini model, How we constract the cost structure of firms

How we constract the cost structure of firms

Profit after tax, #queIn a particular year, an organization earns cash reve...

#queIn a particular year, an organization earns cash revenues of Rs. 2,00,000. Total material and labour expenses are Rs. 1,09,000. The depreciation claimed on the equipment is Rs.

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