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

Business cycle, measures to control business cycle

measures to control business cycle

What are the determinants of income elasticity of demand, What are the dete...

What are the determinants of income elasticity of demand?  There are three determinants of income elasticity of demand. These are: Degree of necessity of a good: In a developed

Demand, assignment of demand thorey

assignment of demand thorey

Microeconomics and the market system, Suppose you are a painter, and the pr...

Suppose you are a painter, and the price of a gallon of paint increases from $3.00 a gallon t $3.50 a gallon. Your usage of paint drops from 35 gallons to 20 gallons a month. 1. Co

Effect of tax on industry''s long run supply curve, The Industry's Long Run...

The Industry's Long Run Supply Curve *  The Effects of Tax - Earlier we studied how firms respond to taxes on an input. - Now, we will consider how firm responds to tax o

Theory of Consumption, llustrate and explain the changing demand gor big Ma...

llustrate and explain the changing demand gor big Mac using the indifference curves and budget line

Chemical combination, Draw a diagram to show the type of bond between two f...

Draw a diagram to show the type of bond between two flourine atom

Manpower requirements approach, Normal 0 false false false ...

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

ECO 365, calculate demand function is Q=100-P, where Q is quantity demand a...

calculate demand function is Q=100-P, where Q is quantity demand and P is price

Insurance - reducing risk, Insurance - Risk averse are willing to pay t...

Insurance - Risk averse are willing to pay to keep away from risk. - If cost of insurance equals expected loss, risk averse people will buy sufficient insurance to totally r

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