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

Average level of nominal prices, Price Level:Overall average level of nomin...

Price Level:Overall average level of nominal prices in the economy can be calculated, most often as a weighted average of the prices of individualservices and goods (with weighting

Hybridization, What is Hybridization? Atomic orbitals can be combined, ...

What is Hybridization? Atomic orbitals can be combined, in a process called hybridization in chemistry , to describe the bonding in polyatomic molecules. Descriptions of the b

Explanation of the break in trend, Explanation of the Break in Trend: ...

Explanation of the Break in Trend: An economy can grow in three different ways or all three ways may work simultaneously:   1)  Horizontally, i.e., it may go on producing m

What do you mean by bond, Q. What do you mean by Bond? Bond: A financia...

Q. What do you mean by Bond? Bond: A financial security that represents promise of its issuer (generally a company or a government) to repay a loan over a specified time period

Explain term Markets , A market is nothing more or less than the locus of e...

A market is nothing more or less than the locus of exchange, it is not of necessity a place, but easily buyers and sellers coming together for transactions.   Transactions happen

possibility production curve, how does the concept of possibility producti...

how does the concept of possibility production curve aplicable in real life?

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