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

Explain the difference between actual and potential growth, Use a PPF to ex...

Use a PPF to explain the difference between actual and potential growth. The PPF shows possible output, taking into consideration all factors of production - but de facto outpu

Gas laws, What is the resultant pressure if 2.7 mol of ideal gas at 273 K a...

What is the resultant pressure if 2.7 mol of ideal gas at 273 K and 2.51 atm in a closed container of constant volume is heated to 399 K

Strong domestic economy and strengthening the patent system, Strong Domesti...

Strong Domestic Economy: We have to realise that healthy export sector can be built up only on a strong and efficient domestic economic structure. A sound domestic economy is

Theory of revealed preference, THEORY OF REVEALED PREFERENCE: If consu...

THEORY OF REVEALED PREFERENCE: If consumer's taste and preferences do  not change, then observation of her market behaviour or, actual act of choice between the commodity sets

Basic questions to be answered by economic institution, What are the basic ...

What are the basic questions to be answered by economic institution? Four fundamental questions should be answered by any economic institution as: a. What goods and services

Production, define and explain theory of production?

define and explain theory of production?

Production theory, why does gap between the ATC curve and the AVC curve dec...

why does gap between the ATC curve and the AVC curve decreases as the level of output increases

What do you meant by informal economy, Q. What do you meant by Informal Eco...

Q. What do you meant by Informal Economy? Informal Economy:Informal sector of the economy represents the production of services and goods for the own-use of the producers or fo

Labour market, Use a graphical illustration to describe briefly what the in...

Use a graphical illustration to describe briefly what the influence of each of the following would be on the market supply of labor:(a) an increase in immigration (b) more women en

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