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

Elasticity, E-goods are returning to price levels which we thought they had...

E-goods are returning to price levels which we thought they had left behind, again the inevitable price elasticity. Why is it so certain that price elasticity will cause those pric

Managerial economics, A company a product using labor (L) and raw material ...

A company a product using labor (L) and raw material (R) with Q = 80L^0.2 R^0.8. If labor costs $20 per hour and raw material $40 per unit, what is the optimal combination (least c

Production possibilities curve, What is the marginal opportunity producing ...

What is the marginal opportunity producing the first unit of paper? The marginal opportunity cost of producing the forth unit of paper?

How do you define a control in economics, A control in economics means a st...

A control in economics means a steady profit rate that is enhancing. Thus, after one year you could have £1mill profit then the next year £3mill profit etc.

Examine the role of foreign direct investment, Examine the role of foreign ...

Examine the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) for developing countries Explanation of foreign direct investment as the direct ownership of capital in another country by a

Coase theorem, Discuss the possible solutions for private solutions (Coase ...

Discuss the possible solutions for private solutions (Coase Theorem) Question 8: Demand: P=100-Q Supply: P=Q MEB= 10 Discuss the possibility of over or under allocations of reso

Game theory, write down the assumotions and importance of game theory

write down the assumotions and importance of game theory

True or false , The efficiency loss of a tax is the tax revenue collected b...

The efficiency loss of a tax is the tax revenue collected by government minus the value of the public goods financed through the tax. Why is this false?

What is the major function of commercial banks?, They take deposits which m...

They take deposits which mean borrow money and make loans which means lend money. The interest rate they pay on the deposits is less than the interest rate they charge on their loa

What do you meant by private equity, Q. What do you meant by Private Equity...

Q. What do you meant by Private Equity? Private Equity: A form of business in which company's entire equity base is owned by one or a small group of individual investors. Under

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