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

Supply and demand, Suppose scientists discover that eating soybeans prevent...

Suppose scientists discover that eating soybeans prevents cancer and heart disease

Explain the main problems with government intervention, Question: i) Ex...

Question: i) Explain the main problems with government intervention. ii) Why and how do governments seek to control monopolies? iii) A country should specialise in the pr

Derive a demand function, Zac consumes only pizza and chianti. He consumes ...

Zac consumes only pizza and chianti. He consumes these goods in fixed proportions: 2 slices of pizza for one glass of chianti. His income is $100 per week. a. Derive demand func

Economics for you, How to solve economics assignment help?

How to solve economics assignment help?

State the example of price and price level, State the example of price and ...

State the example of price and price level Create a basket which contains all the goods sold by a specific store on a specific day. Price of this basket is then a price level -

Indirect Utility Function., M.Phil. Admission Test, 2017 Economics Model Qu...

M.Phil. Admission Test, 2017 Economics Model Question Group A Domain Knowledge in Economics Correct answer is as marked in black. Micro Economics 1. Consider a utility function U =

How to manufactured capital and natural capital, What two measures have bee...

What two measures have been developed in recent years that subtract for the depreciation of both manufactured capital and natural capital? The environmentally adjusted Net Dome

Determine the profit-maximizing price, Determine the Profit-Maximizing Pric...

Determine the Profit-Maximizing Price If a firm targets a 25 % rate of return on sales, and has unit costs of production of $100, what price should it charge if it uses cost-p

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