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

Describe the different pricing strategies of firms, Question: (a) With...

Question: (a) With reference to the characteristics of market structure, describe why the market for powdered milk in Mauritius is an appropriate example of monopolistic compe

Composition of trade, Composition of Trade: It is indicative of the st...

Composition of Trade: It is indicative of the structure and level of development of an economy. For instance, most of the UDCs depend for their export earnings on a few primar

Functions of the ifc, Functions of the IFC: The purpose of the IFC is ...

Functions of the IFC: The purpose of the IFC is to further economic development by encouraging growth of private enterprise in member-countries. The IFC, therefore:  •  inv

Illustrate the features of a perfectly competitive firm, Question 1: (a...

Question 1: (a) Clearly illustrate the features of a perfectly competitive firm. (b) How would the same industry change if it were organized first as a competitive industr

Illustrate the income changes and consumption choice, Illustrate the income...

Illustrate the income changes and consumption choice. Income Changes and Consumption Choice: This is of interest to see at how the consumer’s demand changes when we hold pri

Compute the after-tax cost of debenture, A 5-years Rs.100 debenture of a fi...

A 5-years Rs.100 debenture of a firm can be sold for a net price of Rs. 96.50. The coupon rate of interest is 14 per cent per annum, and the debenture will be redeemed at 5 per cen

Health and life expectancy, Health and Life Expectancy: In addition t...

Health and Life Expectancy: In addition to struggling on low income, many people in the developing nations fight a constant battle against malnutrition, disease and ill healt

Distinguish between interventionist and market-led strategy, Distinguish be...

Distinguish between interventionist and market-led strategies of development. Explanation of interventionist strategy; heavy government involvement in the planning of output, p

Explain about the term cost function, Explain about the term cost function....

Explain about the term cost function. Cost Functions This function measures the minimum cost of producing a specified level of output for some fixed factor prices. Likewise

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