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

Assignment, illustrate graphically the influence of an increase in immigran...

illustrate graphically the influence of an increase in immigrants on the market supply of labour

#title., if the marginal production of labor is rising, is the marginal cos...

if the marginal production of labor is rising, is the marginal cost of production rising or falling? Briefly explain

Economic planning, what are the recommendations for effective economic plan...

what are the recommendations for effective economic planning?

Illustrate the economic growth, Illustrate the Economic Growth Up until...

Illustrate the Economic Growth Up until 1800 growth rates of human populations were glacial. Population growth between 5000 B.C. and 1800 averaged less than one-tenth of a perc

Ic, consumer equilibrium by indiffrence curve approach

consumer equilibrium by indiffrence curve approach

How do we obtain total cost curve, Total cost curve (TC) is obtained by add...

Total cost curve (TC) is obtained by adding up vertically total fixed cost and total variable cost curves because the total cost is sum of total fixed cost and total variable cost

Fiat money in europe , Fiat money is not a new idea.  Some European histori...

Fiat money is not a new idea.  Some European historians recognize the first use of fiat money in Europe resulting from gold and silver smiths issuing their customers receipts for g

Division of labour, Division of labour: Division of labour involves divi...

Division of labour: Division of labour involves dividing a production process into a number of smaller tasks for each task to be undertaken by a different worker. It may also be

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