MasteryExams
Economics • Economic BasicsMedium

What is meant by 'Adverse Selection' in the context of asymmetric information?

A. Consumers selecting substandard products due to misleading advertisements.
B. A pre-contractual situation where the party with more information misrepresents quality, leading to the market being dominated by undesirable outcomes.✓ Correct Answer
C. The deliberate choice of high-risk investment portfolios by conservative institutional investors.
D. Firms intentionally reducing production to drive up market prices.

💡 Solution & Explanation

Adverse selection is a pre-contractual asymmetric information problem where one party possesses hidden knowledge regarding product quality or personal risk, leading to market distortion or collapse. For example, high-risk individuals are more likely to seek comprehensive health insurance, prompting insurers to raise premiums unless regulated.

🚩 Report a problem