Problem set # 2. Risk, expected utility, and loss aversion Due date: March 7 I. Assume a household whose utility is neo-classical, U(x). The realized income is random, high or low: x = Y(1+E), probability 0.5 x₂ , where & > 0 is the realized shock. x₂ = Y(1-8), probability 0.5' Find the cost of volatility, measured by insurance that the household is willing to pay, T, such that U(Y(1-7)) = E(U(x)), where E(U(x)) is the expected utility in the absence of insurance. Hint: this question can be solved graphically by looking at a chart of U'(x), the
Problem set # 2. Risk, expected utility, and loss aversion Due date: March 7 I. Assume a household whose utility is neo-classical, U(x). The realized income is random, high or low: x = Y(1+E), probability 0.5 x₂ , where & > 0 is the realized shock. x₂ = Y(1-8), probability 0.5' Find the cost of volatility, measured by insurance that the household is willing to pay, T, such that U(Y(1-7)) = E(U(x)), where E(U(x)) is the expected utility in the absence of insurance. Hint: this question can be solved graphically by looking at a chart of U'(x), the
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
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Transcribed Image Text:Problem set # 2. Risk, expected utility, and loss aversion Due date: March 7
I. Assume a household whose utility is neo-classical, U(x). The
realized income is random, high or low:
probability 0.5
[x₁ = Y(1+),
x₁ = {
x₂ = Y(1-8), probability 0.5'
where & > 0 is the realized shock.
Find the cost of volatility, measured by insurance that the household is
willing to pay, r, such that U(Y(1-7)) = E(U(x)),
where E(U(x)) is the expected utility in the absence of insurance.
Hint: this question can be solved graphically by looking at a chart of U'(x), the
marginal utility as a function of income x, see the chart below. To simplify notation,
assume normalized utility such that U(1) = U'(1) = 1.
U'(x)
1-1 1+
X
![II Redo question I for the case of a loss-averse household -- when the
bad shock happens, the utility weight associated with the loss is magnified
by the rate of disappointment, B. Thus, the 'expected utility' of a loss-
averse household is V=0.5U[Y(1+ɛ)] +0.5(1+B)U[Y (1–ɛ)].
Hint: the hint of question 1 applies also to question 2; one can solve the
above graphically, or assume that U(x) = ln (x).
III. Assume that B= 2, &=0.05, Y = 1. Calculate the cost of
volatility for risk-averse and loss-averse consumer described in the first
two questions.](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F0a08d33b-c2db-42c2-aef3-0a33cdc53ac0%2Fd6a533ff-28c8-40e8-8a3c-170b847e045b%2Fbk01bvi_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:II Redo question I for the case of a loss-averse household -- when the
bad shock happens, the utility weight associated with the loss is magnified
by the rate of disappointment, B. Thus, the 'expected utility' of a loss-
averse household is V=0.5U[Y(1+ɛ)] +0.5(1+B)U[Y (1–ɛ)].
Hint: the hint of question 1 applies also to question 2; one can solve the
above graphically, or assume that U(x) = ln (x).
III. Assume that B= 2, &=0.05, Y = 1. Calculate the cost of
volatility for risk-averse and loss-averse consumer described in the first
two questions.
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