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

When is the economic theory useless, When is the economic theory useless? ...

When is the economic theory useless? One misunderstanding is to under-estimate the role of an economic theory. Several people thought an economic theory useless since they thin

What are the properties of cost function, What are the properties of cost f...

What are the properties of cost function? Properties of Cost Functions: Some similarities are here with consumer theory. Such similarities are actually exact while one compa

Opportunity cost, define opportunity cost and how it is useful in manageria...

define opportunity cost and how it is useful in managerial decision making?

Strategy to fight ntb and reorganisation of export councils, Reorganisation...

Reorganisation of Export Councils: India has a large number of exporpromotion councils, commodity boards and other similar agencies, butheir impact on India's foreign trade h

Illustrate marginal utility of the variable commodity , As a consumer incre...

As a consumer increases the consumption of any one commodity, marginal utility of the variable commodity must eventually decline."Illustrate the statement. Illustrate law of dem

Expected value, Expected Value - The weighted average of payoffs or val...

Expected Value - The weighted average of payoffs or values resulting from all the possible outcomes. The probabilities of every outcome are used as weights Expected

Introduction, when does market equilibrium occur?

when does market equilibrium occur?

Real business cycle theory, REAL BUSINESS CYCLE THEORY: The parable th...

REAL BUSINESS CYCLE THEORY: The parable that motivates this discussion originated with Edmund Phelps and invites you to think that all men (and women) are islands. They have p

Major air pollutants, Major air pollutants can be sub divided into 2 catexa...

Major air pollutants can be sub divided into 2 catexampleories: Inorganic gases and particular gases. (A) Inorganic gases 1. Carbon monoxide (CO) CO is a colourless, lethal gas

Supply decisions, \-6 6\ Why\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\...

\-6 6\ Why\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

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