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

Managerial economics, what is budget line?show the shift in the budget line...

what is budget line?show the shift in the budget line

Perform an economic feasibility study, Question: You are required to pe...

Question: You are required to perform an economic feasibility study for a project involving the setting up of an information system in a company. The table below summarises th

Explain strategic bidding problem, Two firms, A and B, are planning to ...

Two firms, A and B, are planning to bid for a contract of Motorway extension in Mauritius. Suppose: (1) firm B is a newly established company and has already incurred a st

Identify the basic postulates of economics, Question 1 Identify the basic...

Question 1 Identify the basic postulates of economics Question 2 Discuss the role of price mechanism Question 3 Explain the shape and application of Engel curve

Need of reforms - economic policies, NEED OF REFORMS: Presently Govern...

NEED OF REFORMS: Presently Government offices generate  a lot of paper work in the form of reports/returns, extended file movement in many cases for clarification of some mino

Significance of stagnation in supply and demand calculus, Significance of S...

Significance of Stagnation in Supply and Demand Calculus Stagnation refers to failures of students in a grade/class or grade repetition. The objective of a course is to make c

Organization becoming too large to effectively manage, Economies of scale a...

Economies of scale are advantages obtained from a company becoming large and diseconomies of scale are additional costs inflicted because a firm has become very large.  The causes

Roger, What would be a factor that would make the prospects hopeful for ove...

What would be a factor that would make the prospects hopeful for overcoming the demand for resources in the future

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