Question
ECN328 Biswas Fall 2020 Quiz 3 30 points Lewis College of Business CHOICE UNDER UNCERTAINTY I. Refer to the table below. A and B are
ECN328 Biswas
Fall 2020 Quiz 3 30 points Lewis College of Business
CHOICE UNDER UNCERTAINTY
I. Refer to the table below. A and B are two investment opportunities with the same return but different probabilities associated with each return.
Return on investment | Investment A | Investment B |
$600 | 0.10 | 0.30 |
$300 | 0.80 | 0.40 |
$200 | 0.10 | 0.30 |
- Calculate the expected return from each investment. Which of the two has a higher expected return? (3)
- Calculate the variance and SD associated with the two investments. If you love to take risks, which of the two would you pick? (4)
- Suppose that a risk averse individual is offered a choice between a gamble that pays $1000 with a probability of 0.25 and $100 with a probability of 0.75, OR a certain payment of $325. Which one would he/she choose? (2)
- Consider an individual with an initial wealth of $50,000. They have the opportunity to invest in a project where they may win $40,000 with a probability of 0.8 and may lose $40,000 with a probability of 0.2. There are no out-of-pocket costs for investing in the project but if they lose then that will be deducted from their initial wealth.
- What would be the individuals expected wealth if they participate in the investment project? (2)
- If the individuals preference towards risk are defined by the function: = , would they invest in the project? (Hint: Calculate the expected utility of wealth if the individual participates in the investment and compare it with the utility of their current wealth) (4)
IV. Suppose that individuals are offered a choice between a gamble that pays $20,000 with a probability of 0.3 and $40,000 with a probability of 0.7 OR a certain payment of $34,000. For individuals exhibiting each of the following preferences towards risk indicate whether they will gamble or choose the certain payment (2 points each):
ECN328 Biswas
Fall 2020 Quiz 3 30 points Lewis College of Business
(Hint: Compare expected utility and utility of the certain payment.)
1. = 2 2. = 2 3. =
- Based on your findings in part IV, draw the graphs associated with each of the utility functions. (No calculations or math needed) (1 point each)
- Suppose that the current value of your house is $100,000. Over the next two years, the probability of a fire damage to your house is 0.1 in which case the value of your house will be $90,000.
- What is the expected value of your house two years from now? (2)
- What is your expected loss over the next two years? (2)
- You are planning to sell the house in two years at its expected value but would be equally happy if it sold for at least $98,400. Assuming that you are risk averse, what is the maximum insurance premium you are willing to pay to protect your house against the fire risk? (2)
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