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Author(s)

Michael Whinston

The single-period social insurance model of Diamond and Mirrlees is extended to allow for a diversity of types (in the probability of becoming disabled). When individual type is observable, the utilitarian optimum has both consumption when working and disability benefits increasing with the probability of disability. When type is not observable (adverse selection is present), the optimum is a single
Date Published: 1983
Citations: Whinston, Michael. 1983. Moral Hazard, Adverse Selection, and the Optimal Provision of Public Goods. Journal of Public Economics. (1)49-71.