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

Contribution of foreign trade to economic development, Contribution of Fore...

Contribution of Foreign Trade to Economic Development: Foreign trade contributes to economic development in a number of ways.  •  It provides flow of technology which al

Income, trend and structure of national income in nigeria

trend and structure of national income in nigeria

Managerial economics, Below are the two estimated cost functions. describe ...

Below are the two estimated cost functions. describe what type of data was most likely used to estimate each one and why. Explain which is a short- run function, determine the leve

Demand, brife note on demand

brife note on demand

Equilibrium firms, how to find total revenue total cost approch in equilibr...

how to find total revenue total cost approch in equilibrium firms

Define price elasticity of demand, What is the mathematical definition of p...

What is the mathematical definition of price elasticity of demand The price elasticity of demand is the percentage alters in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change

Demand and supply, During the 1990s, technological advance reduced the cost...

During the 1990s, technological advance reduced the cost of computer chips. Explain, with the use of supply and demand diagrams, how the following markets are affected in terms of

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