0

Risk and Uncertainty in Welfare Economics

Description: This quiz covers the concepts of risk and uncertainty in welfare economics, including concepts like expected utility theory, risk aversion, and the St. Petersburg paradox.
Number of Questions: 14
Created by:
Tags: welfare economics risk uncertainty expected utility theory risk aversion
Attempted 0/14 Correct 0 Score 0

Which of the following is a key assumption of expected utility theory?

  1. Individuals are risk-averse.

  2. Individuals have diminishing marginal utility of income.

  3. Individuals can perfectly predict future outcomes.

  4. Individuals are indifferent between risk and uncertainty.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Expected utility theory assumes that individuals have diminishing marginal utility of income, meaning that the additional satisfaction they derive from each additional unit of income decreases as their income increases.

What is the St. Petersburg paradox?

  1. A paradox that arises when individuals are risk-averse.

  2. A paradox that arises when individuals are risk-neutral.

  3. A paradox that arises when individuals are risk-loving.

  4. A paradox that arises when individuals have diminishing marginal utility of income.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The St. Petersburg paradox is a paradox that arises when individuals are risk-neutral and expected utility theory is applied to a game with an infinite expected payoff.

Which of the following is a measure of risk aversion?

  1. Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion.

  2. Arrow-Pratt measure of relative risk aversion.

  3. Coefficient of variation.

  4. Standard deviation.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion is a measure of how much an individual is willing to pay to reduce risk.

What is the difference between risk and uncertainty?

  1. Risk is measurable, while uncertainty is not.

  2. Uncertainty is measurable, while risk is not.

  3. Risk is subjective, while uncertainty is objective.

  4. Uncertainty is subjective, while risk is objective.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Risk is measurable because it involves known probabilities, while uncertainty involves unknown probabilities.

Which of the following is a common method for dealing with uncertainty in welfare economics?

  1. Expected utility theory.

  2. Minimax criterion.

  3. Maximin criterion.

  4. Hurwicz criterion.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Hurwicz criterion is a method for dealing with uncertainty in welfare economics that involves weighting the expected utility of each outcome by a coefficient of optimism.

What is the difference between ex ante and ex post welfare?

  1. Ex ante welfare is measured before uncertainty is resolved, while ex post welfare is measured after uncertainty is resolved.

  2. Ex ante welfare is measured after uncertainty is resolved, while ex post welfare is measured before uncertainty is resolved.

  3. Ex ante welfare is subjective, while ex post welfare is objective.

  4. Ex post welfare is subjective, while ex ante welfare is objective.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ex ante welfare is measured before uncertainty is resolved, while ex post welfare is measured after uncertainty is resolved.

Which of the following is a common criticism of expected utility theory?

  1. It assumes that individuals are risk-averse.

  2. It assumes that individuals have diminishing marginal utility of income.

  3. It assumes that individuals can perfectly predict future outcomes.

  4. It assumes that individuals are indifferent between risk and uncertainty.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Expected utility theory assumes that individuals can perfectly predict future outcomes, which is often unrealistic.

What is the difference between risk pooling and risk sharing?

  1. Risk pooling involves combining the risks of many individuals into a single pool, while risk sharing involves dividing the risks of a single individual among many individuals.

  2. Risk pooling involves dividing the risks of a single individual among many individuals, while risk sharing involves combining the risks of many individuals into a single pool.

  3. Risk pooling is a form of insurance, while risk sharing is not.

  4. Risk sharing is a form of insurance, while risk pooling is not.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Risk pooling involves combining the risks of many individuals into a single pool, while risk sharing involves dividing the risks of a single individual among many individuals.

Which of the following is a common method for measuring risk aversion?

  1. Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion.

  2. Arrow-Pratt measure of relative risk aversion.

  3. Coefficient of variation.

  4. Standard deviation.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion is a common method for measuring risk aversion.

What is the difference between moral hazard and adverse selection?

  1. Moral hazard is the risk that an individual will take more risks after they are insured, while adverse selection is the risk that an individual will be more likely to purchase insurance if they are at high risk.

  2. Moral hazard is the risk that an individual will be more likely to purchase insurance if they are at high risk, while adverse selection is the risk that an individual will take more risks after they are insured.

  3. Moral hazard is a form of insurance fraud, while adverse selection is not.

  4. Adverse selection is a form of insurance fraud, while moral hazard is not.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Moral hazard is the risk that an individual will take more risks after they are insured, while adverse selection is the risk that an individual will be more likely to purchase insurance if they are at high risk.

Which of the following is a common method for dealing with moral hazard?

  1. Deductibles.

  2. Copayments.

  3. Coinsurance.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance are all common methods for dealing with moral hazard.

What is the difference between ex ante and ex post efficiency?

  1. Ex ante efficiency is achieved when the expected social welfare is maximized, while ex post efficiency is achieved when the actual social welfare is maximized.

  2. Ex ante efficiency is achieved when the actual social welfare is maximized, while ex post efficiency is achieved when the expected social welfare is maximized.

  3. Ex ante efficiency is subjective, while ex post efficiency is objective.

  4. Ex post efficiency is subjective, while ex ante efficiency is objective.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ex ante efficiency is achieved when the expected social welfare is maximized, while ex post efficiency is achieved when the actual social welfare is maximized.

Which of the following is a common method for dealing with adverse selection?

  1. Experience rating.

  2. Risk-adjusted premiums.

  3. Medical underwriting.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Experience rating, risk-adjusted premiums, and medical underwriting are all common methods for dealing with adverse selection.

What is the difference between individual risk and social risk?

  1. Individual risk is the risk that an individual will experience a loss, while social risk is the risk that a group of individuals will experience a loss.

  2. Social risk is the risk that an individual will experience a loss, while individual risk is the risk that a group of individuals will experience a loss.

  3. Individual risk is subjective, while social risk is objective.

  4. Social risk is subjective, while individual risk is objective.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Individual risk is the risk that an individual will experience a loss, while social risk is the risk that a group of individuals will experience a loss.

- Hide questions