--%>

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 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

  • Q : Frequency Distributions Define the term

    Define the term Frequency Distributions?

  • Q : Describe what happens to the confidence

     A nurse practitioner working in a dermatology clinic is studying the efficacy of tretinoin in treating women's post partum abdominal stretch marks.  From a sample of 15 women, the mean reduction of stretch mark score is -0.33 with a sample standard deviation of 2.46.  Describe wha

  • Q : Probability of signaling Quality

    Quality control: when the output of a production process is stable at an acceptable standard, it is said to be "in control?. Suppose that a production process has been in control for some time and that the proportion of defectives has been 0.5. as a means of monitorin

  • Q : MANOVA and Reflection Activity 10:

    Activity 10: MANOVA and Reflection 4Comparison of Multiple Outcome Variables This activity introduces you to a very common technique - MANOVA. MANOVA is simply an extension of an ANOVA and allows for the comparison of multiple outcome variables (again, a very common situation in research 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 : Calculate corresponding t value or s

    1)    Construct a 99% confidence interval for the population mean µ.   2)    At what significance level do the data provide good evidence that the average body temperature is

  • Q : Problem on Poisson distribution The

    The number of trucks coming to a certain warehouse each day follows the Poisson distribution with λ= 8. The warehouse can handle a maximum of 12 trucks a day. What is the probability that on a given day one or more trucks have to be sent away? Round the answer

  • Q : Problem on income probability Kramer

    Kramer spends all of his income  $270  on two products, soup (S) and on golf balls (G). He always bought 2 golf balls for every 1 cup of soup he consumes. He acquires no additional utility from the other cup of soup unless he as well gets 2 more golf balls a

  • 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