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

Themes of microeconomics, Themes of Microeconomics ?? As per Mick Jagge...

Themes of Microeconomics ?? As per Mick Jagger & the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want”. Why Not?          ?? Restricted Resources          ?? Infini

Sylos labini model, How we constract the cost structure of firms

How we constract the cost structure of firms

, #questionLook up the real GDP of the U.S. for the 4th quarter of 2007 an...

#questionLook up the real GDP of the U.S. for the 4th quarter of 2007 and compare it with the real GDP for the 2nd quarter of 2012. What does this tell you about the performance of

Consumer Behavior, Monica consumes only goods A and B. Suppose that her mar...

Monica consumes only goods A and B. Suppose that her marginal uility from consuming good A is equal to 1/Qa, and her marginal utility from consuming good B is 1/Qb. If the price of

#titleELASTICITTY.., CONSIDER THE DEMAND CUVE Q=100-50P DRAW THE DEMAND CUR...

CONSIDER THE DEMAND CUVE Q=100-50P DRAW THE DEMAND CURVE AND INDICATE WHICH PORTION OF THE CURVE IS ELASTIC ,WHICH PORTION IS INELASTIC AND WHICH PORTION IS UNIT ELASTIC

Paramagnetism, chemistry assignments ,  Some normally nonmagnetic substance...

chemistry assignments ,  Some normally nonmagnetic substances are attracted by a magnetic field and studies of these "paramagnetic" substances give information about the number of

Fundamental unit of individual economic behaviour, Households: The fundamen...

Households: The fundamental unit of individual economic behaviour. Households offer labour supply to labour market, make consumer purchases,earn income (from employment and other s

Short run equilibrium - perfect competition, Short run equilibrium - Perfec...

Short run equilibrium - Perfect competition: In the short-run, the perfectly competitive firm maximizes its profit by producing output where MC=MR=P. This is shown in the diag

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