In: Economics
Determine if the asymmetric information problem is adverse selection or moral hazard. Then briefly explain the structure of the asymmetric problem for each.
You are very busy and hired a service to maintain your lawn. Because of travel, you are unlikely to be home the day they service it.
Answer - Since in the given problem , the assymetric information and the change in behaviour of one party is occuring after they have come into the contract for maintaining the lawn , this will be called a Moral Hazard. This would have been adverse selection if this change occured before they came into contract for the maintainance of lawn. Since , beforehand , no change occured , but after they both agreed , the change in behaviour of owner occured and he was late for his home , the day they service it , it will be called a moral hazard and not the adverse selection.