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

Determine the profit maximizing price and quantity, Determine the profit ma...

Determine the profit maximizing price and quantity A firm has segmented its market into the following demand functions: P1 = 500 – 50Q     P2 = 500 – 20Q     with a cost fu

Derive the optimal contract, Assume that in the market there exist two type...

Assume that in the market there exist two types of workers where the principle cannot distinguish types. The two types only differ with respect to the disutility of effort. The dis

Demands for the two market are P1=15-, demand for two market are P1=15-Q1&P...

demand for two market are P1=15-Q1&P2=25-Q2.the monopoly TC is C=5+3(Q1+Q2).What are ,output,profit&MR if the monopolist can price disc? riminate

Real interest rate, Real Interest Rate: Interest rate on a loan, adjusted f...

Real Interest Rate: Interest rate on a loan, adjusted for rate of inflation. Real interest rate represents real burden of an interest payment. Real interest rates should be positiv

World trade organisation, WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO): The Internat...

WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO): The International Trade Organisation (ITO), originally, was proposed to be set up along with the World Bank and the IMF on the recommendations

Indifference curve, explain the properties of indifference curve with the h...

explain the properties of indifference curve with the help of diagrams?

What is black marketing, What is black marketing?  Black Marketing mean...

What is black marketing?  Black Marketing means hoarding of sure commodity to sell it at higher prices. But it is an illegal activity in the economy and makes artificial shorta

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