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(Neutrally) Optimal Mechanism under Adverse Selection: The canonical insurance problem

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  • Diasakos, Theodoros M.
  • Koufopoulos, Kostas

Abstract

This paper revisits the problem of adverse selection in the insurance market of Rothschild and Stiglitz (1976). We extend the three-stage game in Hellwig (1987) by allowing firms to endogenously choose whether or not to pre-commit on their contractual offers (menus). We show how this mechanism can deliver the Miyazaki–Wilson–Spence allocation as the unique perfect-Bayesian equilibrium. This allocation is the unique incentive-efficient and individually-rational maximizer of the utility of the most profitable type. In fact, given that the informed player has only two types, it is the unique core allocation and thus the unique neutral optimum in the sense of Myerson (1983).

Suggested Citation

  • Diasakos, Theodoros M. & Koufopoulos, Kostas, 2018. "(Neutrally) Optimal Mechanism under Adverse Selection: The canonical insurance problem," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 159-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:111:y:2018:i:c:p:159-186
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2018.04.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Dosis, Anastasios, 2019. "Optimal ex post risk adjustment in markets with adverse selection," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 52-59.
    2. Alasseur, Clémence & Chaton, Corinne & Hubert, Emma, 2022. "Optimal contracts under adverse selection for staple goods such as energy: Effectiveness of in-kind insurance," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. Nathalie Fombaron & Georges Dionne & Wanda Mimra, 2023. "Adverse Sélection in Insurance," Post-Print hal-04416340, HAL.
    4. Yuya Wakabayashi, 2024. "An implementation of constrained efficient allocations in hidden information economies," OSIPP Discussion Paper 24E002, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    5. Gemmo, Irina & Kubitza, Christian & Rothschild, Casey G., 2018. "The existence of the Miyazaki-Wilson-Spence equilibrium with continuous type distributions," ICIR Working Paper Series 32/18, Goethe University Frankfurt, International Center for Insurance Regulation (ICIR).
    6. Wanda Mimra & Achim Wambach, 2019. "Contract withdrawals and equilibrium in competitive markets with adverse selection," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 67(4), pages 875-907, June.
    7. Dosis, Anastasios, 2022. "Price caps and efficiency in markets with adverse selection," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Insurance market; Adverse selection; Interim incentive efficiency; Neutral optimum;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law

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