Question
Risk and Insurance Activity: Kelly is a farmer with zero wealth. She can either plant rice or cotton. If she plants cotton, Kelly earns an
Risk and Insurance Activity:
Kelly is a farmer with zero wealth. She can either plant rice or cotton. If she plants cotton, Kelly earns an income of $1600 if the weather is GOOD, and $0 if the weather is BAD. If she plants rice, Kelly will have an income of $900 under both GOOD and BAD weather. The probability of GOOD weather is 0.7. The probability of BAD weather is 0.3. Kelly's utility function is ()=3*sqrt(c), and c is the value of consumption.
Kelly:
Expected utility of plant rice=$30, plant cotton=$28
Certainty equivalent of consumption of plant rice=$900, plant cotton=$784
Kelly's cousin Xinda is a farmer who faces the same choice as Kelly does, but he has wealth of$200 which he will add to his income from farming in his consumption. Coincidentally, he has the same utility function as Kelly: ()=3*sqrt(c), wherecis the value of consumption.
Xinda:
Expected utility of plant rice=$99.5, plant cotton=$101.82
Certainty equivalent of consumption of plant rice=$1,100, plant cotton=$1,151.92
**A new cotton mill has opened in a nearby town, and they have decided to offer an insurance contract to cotton farmers in the area.At the beginning of the season, farmers pay a premium of $480. If the weather is GOOD, the insurance will pay nothing to the farmer. If the weather is BAD, the insurance will pay an indemnity payment of $1600 to the farmer. Think that cotton mill's insurance agents have perfect information about the farmer's activity choice (means they can enforce a contract that requires the farmer to choose cotton).
*Here's the questions I need help with:
- What is the cotton mill's expected profit from this contract?
- What are the expected utilities for planting cotton with insurance for Kelly and Xinda?
- IfKellyis now choosing betweenplanting cotton without insurance,planting rice, andplanting cotton with insurance, what will she choose?
- IfXindais now choosing betweenplanting cotton without insurance,planting rice, andplanting cotton with insurance, what will she choose?
Step by Step Solution
There are 3 Steps involved in it
Step: 1
Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions
See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success
Step: 2
Step: 3
Ace Your Homework with AI
Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance
Get Started