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

The income elasticity of demand , The income elasticity of demand calculate...

The income elasticity of demand calculates the responsiveness of the quantity demanded of a commodity to changes in consumers' incomes.  This is typically calculated by replacing t

Microeconomics assignment, suppose the production function is given as:X=b0...

suppose the production function is given as:X=b0Lb1Kb2,where b0=level of technology find marginal product of factors(MPL0and MPK) find factor intensity

Draw a graph of the market for reserves, During summer of 2006, China incre...

During summer of 2006, China increased their reserve requirement for the banking system while maintaining a fixed target for the interbank lending interest rate. Draw a graph of th

International comparisons method, International Comparisons Method In ...

International Comparisons Method In the 1960s, a few developing countries of the world looked around the developed world in search of models of development. For instance, Sout

Budget constraints, Budget Constraints   * The Budget Line - The budg...

Budget Constraints   * The Budget Line - The budget line indicates all the combinations of 2 commodities for which total money spent equals the total income. * The Budget

Economics, What are the factors that producers in the society may take into...

What are the factors that producers in the society may take into consideration when deciding on the what to produce,how to produce and for whom ?

Economics, illustrate and explain using diagrams how a single seller within...

illustrate and explain using diagrams how a single seller within the market can maintain an inefficient allocation of resourcesquestion #Minimum 100 words accepted#

Concepts of education and economic development - education, Normal 0 ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

What do opponents of globalization protest against, Problem : "The beli...

Problem : "The beliefs that free trade favors only the rich countries and that volatile capital markets hurt developing countries the most have led activists of many stripes

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