News

Game theory in the popular press.

 

Game theory and economics in the news

August 18, 2006 Ventura County Star, Health plan for small firms to shut down
Insurers participating in pooled-employer programs lose money, possibly due to adverse selection, as high-risk employees are more likely to select certain plans. (by Allison Bruce)
July 28, 2006 Investor's Business Daily, Let Employees Control Future Of Retirements
Adverse selection in the pension insurance market is overcome with mandating insurance coverage, but moral hazard persists. (by Jagadeesh Gokhale and Peter van Doren)
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July 27, 2006 Mail and Guardian, Medical schemes under the spotlight
Argues that waiting periods for medical insurance coverage in South Africa should be used only to overcome adverse selection, not to forward discrimination.
May 13, 2006 Slate, Risky Business
A discussion of the theoretical and psychological elements of risk in the insurance industry (by Tim Harford)
April 29, 2006 Slate, If Life Gives You Lemons ...
A discussion of Akerlof's famous lemon problem, and the role of adverse selction in the markets for used cars and insurance (by Tim Harford)
December 8, 2005 Slate, It's not your grandpa's moral hazard anymore
An economist worries about the moral hazard created by the medicare prescription drug benefit. (by Austan Goolsbee)
August 29, 2005 The New Yorker, The moral-hazard myth
Argues that politicians have overstated the moral hazard problem in medical insurance, as few people would overconsume medical services. (by Malcolm Gladwell)
March 25, 2004 GovExec.com, Lawmakers voice doubts about health savings accounts
Cites arguments that adverse selection will lead to only the healthiest accepting medical savings accounts, leaving remaining workers with higher health costs.
October 27, 2003 Houston Chronicle, Extra life insurance from employer often too costly
Employer life insurance is too costly due to adverse selection. Only the sickest employees sign up, leading to higher premiums.
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April 14, 2003 Mises.org, Terrorism and the moral hazard
Argues that the insurance-industry requirement to offer terrorism insurance will lead to more terrorist attacks as moral hazard precludes care.
April 8, 2002 Wall Street Journal, Can the risk of terrorism be calculated by insurers?
Understanding the mixed strategy game of target selection and defense helps quantify risk.
April 8, 2002 Roanoke Times, Ensuring discrimination
Considers the relationship between credit histories and moral hazard in the insurance industry. (by Reginald Shareef)
January 11, 2002 Poker Digest, How winning and losing alters our perceptions of risk
Applications of Thaler's research on risk tolerance and rationality to poker
2002 Bangkok Post, Four-year timeframe looks likely
Deposit insurance agency may introduce moral hazard by charging the same premiums from all institutions regardless of risk.
October 31, 2001 The Street.com, Moral hazard lights flare around bailouts
Government aid to the insurance industry presents a moral hazard problem
October 1, 1998 Physician's News Digest, IPAs confront market challenges
Risk management and incentive pay in physician groups.
February 6, 1998 Slate, Uninsured-Motorist Fun
Both high and low auto insurance premiums can be self-fulfilling prophecies, as two equilibria exist. The better equilibrium, overcoming adverse selection, may come about by mandating insurance. (by Steven E. Landsburg)
March 29, 1996 Financial Times, On the trail of a good bet
Describes people's attitudes towards very unlikely risks, and the implications for finance, insurance, and government policy. (by John Kay)