An individual has the utility function U(I) = I^(1/2), where I is their net income. (Note that I to the exponent/power of 1/2 is the same as the square root of I.) The individual starts with $1600 in income. The individual has a 20% probability of being very sick, 30% probability of being slightly sick, and 50% probability of being healthy. If the individual is sick, they lose net income because they need to pay healthcare costs. The healthcare costs are $1600 if they are very sick, $700 if they are slightly sick, and $0 if they are healthy. Please use this information for the following parts of this question unless otherwise specified.   What is the individual's expected utility?   Suppose a health insurance company offers the individual a full insurance contract. What is the actuarially fair, full insurance premium for this individual?   What is the individual's expected utility if they purchase a full insurance contract at the actuarially fair, full insurance premium?

Microeconomic Theory
12th Edition
ISBN:9781337517942
Author:NICHOLSON
Publisher:NICHOLSON
Chapter7: Uncertainty
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 7.1P
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An individual has the utility function U(I) = I^(1/2), where I is their net income. (Note that I to the exponent/power of 1/2 is the same as the square root of I.) The individual starts with $1600 in income. The individual has a 20% probability of being very sick, 30% probability of being slightly sick, and 50% probability of being healthy. If the individual is sick, they lose net income because they need to pay healthcare costs. The healthcare costs are $1600 if they are very sick, $700 if they are slightly sick, and $0 if they are healthy. Please use this information for the following parts of this question unless otherwise specified.

 

What is the individual's expected utility?

 

Suppose a health insurance company offers the individual a full insurance contract. What is the actuarially fair, full insurance premium for this individual?

 

What is the individual's expected utility if they purchase a full insurance contract at the actuarially fair, full insurance premium?

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