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

What do you meant by enclosures, Q. What do you meant by Enclosures? En...

Q. What do you meant by Enclosures? Enclosures: A historic process in Britain and other European countries, in very early years of capitalism, in that lands formerly held and u

Define the circular flow diagram, The circular flow diagram is used to repr...

The circular flow diagram is used to represent the interdependence that exists between sectors of the economy.  The diagram illustrates that there are various collections of same e

Service levels in supply chain management, Service levels in Supply Chain M...

Service levels in Supply Chain Management Consider that a finished product is made up of five inventoried component parts. If the service level were 90 per cent or 0.9 for eac

Keys of the profit maximisation in production technology, What are the keys...

What are the keys of the profit maximisation in production technology? Profit Maximization in production technology: a. Producer Behavior b. Producer’s Optimal Choice

Elasticity, why is elasticity important for beachfronf properties

why is elasticity important for beachfronf properties

Economic cycle, Economic Cycle The economic cycle is the long-standing...

Economic Cycle The economic cycle is the long-standing sample of alternating times of economic growth (expansion) and decline (recession), followed by changing economic indica

Indifference curve and budget line, how the increase in price will affect c...

how the increase in price will affect consumer''s ability to maximise satisfaction?

Monopoly, if the inverse demand curve is p=120-Qand the marginal cost is co...

if the inverse demand curve is p=120-Qand the marginal cost is const ant at 10 ,

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