Asymmetric information: adverse selection and moral hazard. - One Line Questions

1. Screening refers to: A party with inferior information taking steps to uncover the hidden characteristics of the other party.
2. Moral hazard occurs when: A party's actions are unobservable and the party has an incentive to act in a way that harms the other party.
3. Which of the following is an example of moral hazard? A car owner driving less carefully after purchasing comprehensive insurance.
4. What is the 'principal-agent problem'? A situation where a principal cannot observe the actions of an agent, leading to potential conflicts of interest.
5. Which economic issue arises after a transaction due to asymmetric information? Moral hazard
6. In the context of employment contracts, if an employee has incentives to exert less effort because their effort is difficult to monitor, this is an example of: Moral hazard
7. When a government agency provides subsidies for a product, and consumers, feeling less financial burden, tend to consume more of it, this can be a form of: Moral hazard
8. The concept of 'hidden action' is most closely associated with which type of information asymmetry problem? Moral hazard
9. The concept of 'hidden characteristics' is most closely associated with which type of information asymmetry problem? Adverse selection
10. In the context of lending, if a borrower promises to use the loan for a safe investment but secretly plans a riskier one, this is an instance of: Moral hazard
11. In the context of employee effort, if an employer cannot perfectly monitor how hard an employee is working, the employer faces a problem of: Moral hazard
12. A situation where a person's insurance coverage leads them to engage in riskier behavior is a classic example of: Moral hazard
13. In the principal-agent framework, the agent's desire to pursue their own interests, potentially at the principal's expense, is known as: Opportunism
14. Deductibles in insurance contracts primarily aim to address: Moral hazard by making the insured party bear some of the cost.
15. Which of the following is an example of signaling in the job market? An employee obtaining a university degree.
16. Which of the following is an example of screening in the insurance market? An insurance company offering different policies based on health status.
17. Moral hazard in the credit market refers to: Borrowers using loan proceeds for riskier ventures than initially agreed upon.
18. What is the primary challenge posed by adverse selection in financial markets? Lenders might not be able to assess the true riskiness of borrowers before lending.
19. In a credit market, adverse selection occurs when: Borrowers who are likely to default are more likely to seek loans.
20. What is the core concept of asymmetric information in economics? One party in a transaction has more or better information than the other.
21. The 'lemons problem' suggests that in markets with asymmetric information about quality: Sellers of high-quality products may be unable to get a fair price.
22. In the labor market, moral hazard can manifest as: Employees exerting less effort than promised because their effort is hard to observe.
23. What is the 'lemons' problem in Akerlof's model? Low-quality goods driving out high-quality goods.
24. Co-payments in health insurance are designed to: Mitigate moral hazard by making patients more cost-conscious.
25. Which of the following is a potential consequence of severe moral hazard in a market? Market collapse or a significant reduction in the quality of goods/services traded.
26. Why might a perfectly competitive market fail to emerge in a market characterized by significant asymmetric information? Adverse selection can lead to market collapse or reduced quality.
27. Which of the following is a common solution for adverse selection in markets with differentiated products? Providing warranties and guarantees
28. In the context of insurance, adverse selection leads to: Insurers attracting a disproportionate number of high-risk individuals.
29. The existence of 'hidden action' and 'hidden information' in economic transactions implies that: Contracts and institutions may be necessary to align incentives.
30. Which of the following can help lenders mitigate adverse selection? Requiring collateral or down payments.
31. Which economic problem arises before a transaction occurs due to asymmetric information? Adverse selection
32. A situation where a seller knows a product is defective but does not disclose it to the buyer is an example of: Adverse selection
33. If a company hires employees and then finds out they are less productive than their resumes suggested, this is primarily a problem of: Adverse selection
34. Reputation mechanisms, such as credit ratings or customer reviews, primarily address: Adverse selection by revealing hidden information.
35. George Akerlof's seminal paper 'The Market for Lemons' illustrates which economic concept? Adverse selection in the used car market
36. Adverse selection is a problem that occurs when: Individuals with higher risks are more likely to seek insurance.
37. Consider a market for used cars. If buyers cannot easily distinguish between good cars ('cherries') and bad cars ('lemons'), what is the likely outcome according to Akerlof? The market will be dominated by 'lemons', and 'cherries' may disappear.
38. Which tool is LEAST likely to be used to combat moral hazard? Screening mechanisms
39. Which of the following is a mechanism to mitigate adverse selection? Screening and signaling
40. Which of the following is a mechanism to mitigate moral hazard? Monitoring and incentives (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, performance contracts)
41. If employers offer higher salaries to employees with advanced degrees, this is an example of: Signaling by employees
42. Which of the following can help lenders mitigate moral hazard? Monitoring the borrower's activities and enforcing loan covenants.
43. Which tool is LEAST likely to be used to combat adverse selection? Monitoring of post-contractual behavior
44. The use of credit scores by lenders is a form of: Screening by lenders
45. In a principal-agent relationship, moral hazard is a concern because: The agent may shirk responsibilities or take excessive risks because their actions are not fully monitored.
46. Signaling is a strategy employed by: The party with more information to reveal their hidden characteristics.
47. A buyer is more likely to be cautious about the quality of a product when: The seller has more information about the product's quality.
48. Which of the following best describes the role of warranties in mitigating adverse selection? They signal the seller's confidence in the product's quality.