--%>

Problem on utility funtion probability

Suppose that your utility, U, is a function only of wealth, Y, and that U(Y) is as drawn below. In this graph, note that U(Y) increases linearly between points a and b. 

Suppose further that you do not know whether or not you will be sick, but you do know that the probability of becoming sick is p (while the probability of staying healthy is 1-p).  If you do get sick, your wealth will be Ys = 0.  If you do not get sick, your wealth will be Yh > 0. 

1940_utility function.jpg

(1) Write an expression for expected income, EI, and an expression for expected utility without insurance.
 
(2) Assume that a < EI < b.  Draw, on the graph above, a line showing expected utility without insurance. Also draw a line showing expected utility with actuarially fair full insurance.

(3) Consider an actuarially fair partial insurance contract that offers a if you are sick and b if you are healthy. Would your utility with such a contract be greater or less than your utility with an actuarially fair full insurance contract? Briefly, explain. 

   Related Questions in Advanced Statistics

  • Q : Problem on layout A manufacturing

    A manufacturing facility consists of five departments, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. It produces four components having manufacturing product routings and production volumes indicated below.   1. Generate the from-to matrix and the interaction matrix. Use a

  • Q : Pearsons correlation coefficient The

    The table below illustrates the relationship between two variable X and Y. A

  • Q : Problem on consumers marginal utility

    Consider a consumer with probability p of becoming sick.  Let Is be the consumer’s income if he becomes sick, and let Ins be his income if he does not become sick, with Is < Ins. Suppo

  • Q : How you would use randomization in

    The design of instrument controls affects how easily people can use them. An investigator used 25 students who were right-handed to determine whether right-handed subjects preferred right-handed threaded knobs. He had two machines that differed only in that one had a

  • Q : Discrete and continuous data

    Distinguish between discrete and continuous data in brief.

  • Q : Probability and Statistics

    Instructions: Do your work on this question and answer sheet. Please print or write legibly, and, as always, be complete but succinct. Record your answer and your supporting work in the designated space. Explain your method of solution and be sure to label clearly any

  • Q : Calculate confidence interval A nurse

    A nurse anesthetist was experimenting with the use of nitronox as an anesthetic in the treatment of children's fractures of the arm.  She treated 50 children and found that the mean treatment time (in minutes) was 26.26 minutes with a sample standard deviation of

  • Q : Analysing the Probabilities 1. In the

    1. In the waning seconds of Superbowl XLVII, the Baltimore Ravens elected to take a safety rather than punt the ball. A sports statistician wishes to analyze the effect this decision had on the probability of winning the game. (a) Which two of the following probabilities would most help t

  • Q : Components of time series Name and

    Name and elaborate the four components of time series in brief.

  • Q : Frequency Distributions Define the term

    Define the term Frequency Distributions?