Microeconomics, Microeconomics

Assignment Help:
#question.Question: Answer all parts (a, b, c, d, e & f).

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

Effect of effluent fees on the firm input choices, The Effect of Effluent F...

The Effect of Effluent Fees on the Firms' Input Choices *  Firms which have a by-product to production produce an effluent. *  An effluent fee is a per unit fee which firms

What do you meant by derivatives, Q. What do you meant by Derivatives? ...

Q. What do you meant by Derivatives? Derivatives: A derivative is a financial asset whose resale value depends on the value of other financial assets at different points in tim

Describe the features of monopolistic competition, It is important to under...

It is important to understand the important characteristics of monopolistic competition. The knowledge of these features will enable the students to know how this form of market st

State the difference between indifference curve and isoquant, What is the d...

What is the difference between indifference curve and isoquants?  An indifference curve shows dissimilar combinations which a consumer can buy with a given level of income. Ind

The market mechanism , The Market Mechanism  Features of the equil...

The Market Mechanism  Features of the equilibrium or market clearing price: – QD = QS  – No shortage or scarcity  – No extra supply price.  – No pressure on th

Production function, what are the properties of cob-douglas production func...

what are the properties of cob-douglas production function

1, a) Consider the following flows (in thousand of people) between the vari...

a) Consider the following flows (in thousand of people) between the various labour market states in a particular month: UE = 240 000; UNLF = 180 000; EU = 190 000; NLFU = 220 000

Economics, Assume that a persion lives for three equal periods: Youth, Earl...

Assume that a persion lives for three equal periods: Youth, Early Adulthood and Late Adulthood. The person dies after later adulthood period ends. If one invests $200 in educatio

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