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

Mediterranean regional project (mrp) technique, Mediterranean Regional Proj...

Mediterranean Regional Project (MRP) Technique This technique had been initially employed by the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, Europe) to prepare

Explain how the price system eliminates a surplus, Explain how the price sy...

Explain how the price system eliminates a surplus. The meaning of surplus is that quantity demanded is less as compared to the quantity supplied.  This will lead to downward pr

Pure monopoly, advantage dis advantage of pure monopoly

advantage dis advantage of pure monopoly

Determinants of demand for education, Normal 0 false false ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Demand and price, examples of quantity demand when prices increase

examples of quantity demand when prices increase

Consumer behaviour, identify three factors to criticize the theory of consu...

identify three factors to criticize the theory of consumer behavior or utility theory

Role of managerial economist, Explain the role of managerial ecnomist in ki...

Explain the role of managerial ecnomist in kissan &dipsy fro ub group

Public goods and public choice, politicians are often heard saying that tui...

politicians are often heard saying that tuition at state universities should be kept low to make equation equally accessible to all residents of the state, regardless of income

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