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 are the main causes of unemployment, What are the main causes of unemp...

What are the main causes of unemployment? Two main paths are available; demand-deficient unemployment and real wage unemployment. After explaining unemployment (percentage o

When does deadweight loss occur to society, When does deadweight loss occur...

When does deadweight loss occur to society? Applying consumer and producer surplus the efficiency costs of a tax: A tax causes a deadweight loss to society, since less the g

Disposable income, what is disposable income and its importance.

what is disposable income and its importance.

Explain about employment rate, Q. Explain about Employment Rate? Emplo...

Q. Explain about Employment Rate? Employment Rate: This measures share of working age adults who are in fact employed in a paying position. Employment rate can be a better in

Multiplnat monopoly, P=140-4Q mc1=20+30q for plant 1 mc2=80+10q for plant 2...

P=140-4Q mc1=20+30q for plant 1 mc2=80+10q for plant 2 how many units should be produced by plant 1 and plant 2 to maximise profit for this monopoly?

Profit maximizing quanitity, how do I determine the profit-maximizing quant...

how do I determine the profit-maximizing quantity of a firm for different market prices when only given TFC, TVC, and the market price

Supply/demand/cost curves, given short run total cost curve :10q^2+4q=100 a...

given short run total cost curve :10q^2+4q=100 and short run marginal cost MC=20q+4 and market demand Q=100-p what''s the equation of the short run supply curve?

Neoclassical economics, In neoclassical economics, equilibrium exists when ...

In neoclassical economics, equilibrium exists when supply equals demand for a particular commodity. General equilibrium is a special (purely hypothetical) condition in which every

What is average revenue and average revenue curve, What is average revenue ...

What is average revenue and average revenue curve Average Revenue:   The average revenue is the total revenue separated by the level of output. It is therefore the price.

National income accounting, National income accounting: Final Goods: ...

National income accounting: Final Goods: Final goods are goods and services which are being purchased for final use and not for resale or further processing or manufacturing

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