Mary is considering two jobs.Option (a) a job with a bank with a salary of $70,000 a year. The other option is a start-upcompany with a base salary of $40,000 with a 50% chance of a bonus of $$60000. Maryis risk-adverse with a utility function given by U=W1/2, where W is her wealth.(a) Calculate the value and expected utility of both options. What job does Marytake. [2 marks](b) What is the minimum salary in option (a) that Mary would accept in preference tothe risky job (b) [2 marks](c) Max is considering the two jobs as well. Max loves risk. His Utility function isU=W2. What job does Max take? Show all relevant calculations. [2 marks](d) Steve lives on Waiheke Island and is considering buying an e-bike, which costs$4000 to commute to work. However, he has to take the bike on the ferry everyday, where there is a risk that it will be exposed to salt spray, which could destroythe e-bike. He estimates the risk of this at 10%. He is risk-averse with a utilityfunction of U=W1/2. The salesperson tells Steve that they can offer insurance for$650. Would Steve accept the insurance? Show all relevant working. [4 marks].
Question
Mary is considering two jobs.Option (a) a job with a bank with a salary of 40,000 with a 50% chance of a bonus of 60000. Maryis risk-adverse with a utility function given by U=W1/2, where W is her wealth.(a) Calculate the value and expected utility of both options. What job does Marytake. 2 marks What is the minimum salary in option (a) that Mary would accept in preference tothe risky job (b) 2 marks Max is considering the two jobs as well. Max loves risk. His Utility function isU=W2. What job does Max take? Show all relevant calculations. 2 marks Steve lives on Waiheke Island and is considering buying an e-bike, which costs650. Would Steve accept the insurance? Show all relevant working. [4 marks].
Solution
(a) For the bank job, Mary's utility is U = W^(1/2) = 264.58. For the start-up job, the expected wealth is 60,000 = 50,000^(1/2) = $223.61. Since the utility of the bank job is higher, Mary would choose the bank job.
(b) Let's denote the minimum salary that Mary would accept in preference to the risky job as W. Then, we have W^(1/2) = 2,500,000, or $50,000.
(c) For Max, the utility of the bank job is U = W^2 = 4,900,000,000. The expected utility of the start-up job is U = (60,000)^2 = $2,500,000,000. Since the utility of the bank job is higher, Max would choose the bank job.
(d) Without insurance, the expected cost of the e-bike is 4,000 = 4,400^(1/2) = 4,000 + 4,650, and the utility is U = 68.14. Since the utility with insurance is higher, Steve would accept the insurance.
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