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

Absolute and comperitive advantage, If one person can produce 1 fish and 10...

If one person can produce 1 fish and 10 oranges per hour and works 5 hours a day.another person can produce 2 fish and 20 oranges per 2 hors and works 8 hurs a day then who has the

Economies of scale, Economies of Scale The reduction in the cost of ea...

Economies of Scale The reduction in the cost of each additional unit produced as all factors of production increase. Factors contributing to economies of scale include discoun

Consumers demand function, A consumer purchases food (X) and clothing (Y). ...

A consumer purchases food (X) and clothing (Y). Her utility function is given by: , income is $100 and the price of food is $1 and the price of clothing is Py. a. Derive the equ

What is the difference between price value and price level, What is the dif...

What is the difference between price value and price level?  Price value is the value of commodity bought by the consumer at a certain price from the market, while, price level

Monopoly, What are the causes of emergence of monopoly?

What are the causes of emergence of monopoly?

Salesmaximisation, fig2.3 elaplanition of sales maximisation

fig2.3 elaplanition of sales maximisation

Product differentiation, Question: Product differentiation and entry/exit ...

Question: Product differentiation and entry/exit Two differentiated goods, apples and oranges, are located at the two extremes of a linear product space (a segment of length 1)

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