Question

Suppose that Elizabeth has a utility function U= (or U=W^(1/3) ) where W is her wealth...

Suppose that Elizabeth has a utility function U= (or U=W^(1/3) ) where W is her wealth and U is the utility that she gains from wealth. Her initial wealth is $1000 and she faces a 25% probability of illness. If the illness happens, it would cost her $875 to cure it.

  1. What is Elizabeth’s marginal utility when she is well? And when she is sick? Is she risk-averse or risk-loving?
  2. What is her expected wealth with no insurance?
  3. What is her expected utility with no insurance?
  4. What is the actuarially fair premium (expected value of my loss)?
  5. What is the most I would be willing to pay to shed the risk?

    Suppose that Elizabeth has a utility function U= (or U=W^(1/3) ) where W is her wealth and U is the utility that she gains from wealth. Her initial wealth is $1000 and she faces a 25% probability of illness. If the illness happens, it would cost her $875 to cure it.

  6. What is Elizabeth’s marginal utility when she is well? And when she is sick? Is she risk-averse or risk-loving?
  7. What is her expected wealth with no insurance?
  8. What is her expected utility with no insurance?
  9. What is the actuarially fair premium (expected value of my loss)?
  10. What is the most I would be willing to pay to shed the risk?

Homework Answers

Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
Suppose Rita has log utility in wealth, ?(?) = ln(?), and has an initial wealth of...
Suppose Rita has log utility in wealth, ?(?) = ln(?), and has an initial wealth of $40,000. There is a 25% chance that she will be healthy this year and her wealth won’t be affected by illness. However, there is a 50% chance that she will have a minor illness at some point and a 25% chance that she will experience a major illness. In the case of a minor illness, she will lose $5,000 of her wealth, but a...
Consider an individual whose utility function over wealth is U(W), where U is increasing smoothly in...
Consider an individual whose utility function over wealth is U(W), where U is increasing smoothly in W (U’ > 0) and convex (U’’ > 0). a. Draw a utility function in U-W space that fits this description. b. Explain the connection between U’’ and risk aversion c. True or false: this individual prefers no insurance to an actuarially fair, full contract. Briefly explain your answer
Suppose that an economist has a utility function U = (Income)0.25. Her income is $65K a...
Suppose that an economist has a utility function U = (Income)0.25. Her income is $65K a year, but there is a 10 percent chance of becoming ill and making only $57K. (a) What is her expected utility if she does not have insurance? (b) What is the actuarially fair insurance premium? (c) How much is she willing to pay for insurance?
Consider Brandy who has an initial wealth of $200,000. Over the next year, Brandy faces a...
Consider Brandy who has an initial wealth of $200,000. Over the next year, Brandy faces a 10% risk of getting a grave illness that will cost $100,000 to treat. a. What is the actuarially fair price of insurance? Explain. b. What is her expected utility without insurance if U(Wealth=100,000)=200 and U(Wealth=200,000)=340? c. Brandy is willing to pay up to $15,000 for insurance that will cover the entire cost of care should she become ill. What does this tell you about...
Suppose that your utility function is U = √ I where I is the amount of...
Suppose that your utility function is U = √ I where I is the amount of income you make per month. Suppose that you typically make $8,100 per month, but there is a 5 percent chance that, in the next month, you will get sick and lose $3,200 in income. (a) What is your expected utility if you do not have health insurance to protect against this adverse event? [1 mark] (b) Suppose you can buy insurance that will fully...
Suppose Alana has personal wealth of $10,000 and there is a probability of 0.2 of losing...
Suppose Alana has personal wealth of $10,000 and there is a probability of 0.2 of losing her car worth $6,400 in an accident.   Her utility (of wealth) function is given by  u(w) =  w0.5, where  w  is wealth.      (a) What is Alana's expected wealth, expected utility, and utility of expected wealth? If she can insure "fully", and if this insurance is fair, how much would it cost her? (b) What is the maximum amount Alana would be prepared to pay for full insurance?...
Joe’s wealth is $100 and he is an expected utility maximizer with a utility function U(W)...
Joe’s wealth is $100 and he is an expected utility maximizer with a utility function U(W) = W1/2. Joe is afraid of oversleeping his economics exam. He figures there is only a 1 in 10 chance that he will, but if he does, it will cost him $100 in fees to the university for taking an exam late. Joe’s neighbor, Mary, never oversleeps. She offers to wake him one hour before the test, but he must pay her for this...
7: Consider Emily who has a personal wealth of $10,000, and has a probability of 0.2...
7: Consider Emily who has a personal wealth of $10,000, and has a probability of 0.2 of losing her car worth $6,400 in an accident. Her utility (of wealth) function is given by  u(w) =  w0.5, (w = wealth).      (a) What is Emily's expected wealth, expected utility, and utility of expected wealth? How much would it cost her if she can insure "fully", and if this insurance is fair? (b) For full insurance, what is the max amount Emily would pay?...
Suppose you are endowed with with a utility function over wealth given by: u(w) = 7w...
Suppose you are endowed with with a utility function over wealth given by: u(w) = 7w + 100. Further, suppose you are offered a gamble that pays $10 with probability 30% and $100 with probability 70%. (A) What is the expected value of this gamble? (B) Would you rather have the gamble, or a guaranteed $70? (C) Now suppose your utility function is u(w) = 100w − 18. How does your answer in (B) change? (D) Suppose the utility function...
A small business owner has a log utility function,?(?) = ln(?). She faces a 10% chance...
A small business owner has a log utility function,?(?) = ln(?). She faces a 10% chance of having a fire that will reduce her net worth to $1.00, a 10% chance that a fire will reduce her net worth to $50,000, and an 80% chance that her business will retain its value of $100,000. a. What is the business owner’s expected wealth? b. What is the utility of expected wealth in this scenario? c. What is the expected utility of...