Adam has just purchased a new car and has to decide whether to buy insurance to cover his new car in the event of a loss. Assume that Adam knows the probability (p) of him having an accident and losing his new car. The car is valued at L and the amount of insurance to purchase for this value is X. Adam’s entire wealth after buying the car is W. Let r be unit price of insurance. Briefly explain the problem of the insurance company and show that for insurance to be actuarially fair, the premium must equal the probability of accident.

Adam has just purchased a new car and has to decide whether to buy insurance to cover his new car in the event of a loss. Assume that Adam knows the probability (p) of him having an accident and losing his new car. The car is valued at L and the amount of insurance to purchase for this value is X. Adam’s entire wealth after buying the car is W. Let r be unit price of insurance. Briefly explain the problem of the insurance company and show that for insurance to be actuarially fair, the premium must equal the probability of accident.

Microeconomic Theory

12th Edition

ISBN:9781337517942

Author:NICHOLSON

Publisher:NICHOLSON

Chapter18: Asymmetric Information

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 18.12P

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