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

Cost in the short run, Cost in the Short Run Marginal Cost (or MC) is t...

Cost in the Short Run Marginal Cost (or MC) is the cost of expanding output by one unit.  As fixed costs have no impact on marginal cost, it can be given as: Average Total

Performance of public sector enterprises, Performance of Public Sector Ente...

Performance of Public Sector Enterprises: Data reveal that the performance of the much-maligned public enterprises has shown a distinct improvement during the last 9 years. Gr

ADVANCE ECONOMICS, THERE IS PRESSURE ON THE CENTRAL BANK TO INCREASE MONEY...

THERE IS PRESSURE ON THE CENTRAL BANK TO INCREASE MONEY SUPPLY WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT ON THE MACROECONOMIC VARIABLE

Explain the difference between a stock and a flow, Explain the difference b...

Explain the difference between a stock and a flow.   A stock is something whose quantity is calculated at a point in time, whereas a flow measures the quantity of something ove

Determine the price differential, Severe drought hit the coffee industry ha...

Severe drought hit the coffee industry hard this year; as a result, more people are now switching to tea. The first table below shows the original supply and demand quantities in t

Demand and Supply changes, The price of oil increases because OPEC reduces ...

The price of oil increases because OPEC reduces oil production

Short notes, Amartya Sen''s concept of poverty and welfare.

Amartya Sen''s concept of poverty and welfare.

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