Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM is Co-Founder of Wallstreetmojo.com and possesses 18+ years of expertise in Financial Modeling, Valuations, and Excel. With a background as a former Equity Research Analyst at JPMorgan and CLSA, he brings unparalleled proficiency to these key financial domains.
What Is Asymmetric Information?
Asymmetric Information is concerned with studying various types of decisions regarding transactions where a party is well informed compared to another. Examples of such a problem could be a moral hazard, monopolies of knowledge, and adverse selection. Therefore, it usually extends to non-economical behavior.
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Thus, in it one party is better informed than the other. In various professions like medical or teaching, this process, if used positively, may lead to quality improvement and innovation. If used negatively, it may lead to wastage resources and mis-selling. It causes failure in the market and price fluctuations.
Key Takeaways
Asymmetric information analyzes different transaction decisions where one party is more well-informed than another. Such a problem involves a moral hazard, knowledge monopolies, and adverse selection. Thus, it generally expands to non-economical behavior.
Adverse selection and moral hazards are the types of asymmetric information.
Availability of information, guarantees & warranties, taxes & subsidies, industrial standards, monitoring & controlling, and licensing & liability laws are the solutions to the asymmetric information problem. Government interference may also be required as these circumstances can influence the economy.
Asymmetric Information Explained
Asymmetric information theory is a situation whereby unequal knowledge between the parties of a transaction results in a unique advantage with additional knowledge.
It occurs primarily before the transaction/pre-contractual problem. Adverse selection and Moral hazard can result from severe asymmetric information problems.
The problem of asymmetric information in financial markets is a long-standing phenomenon expected to prevail due to a difference in perception and a lack of smooth communication. There requires a two-way dialogue between interested parties and the availability of sufficient information to ensure correct decisions are taken. Government intervention can also be necessary as this situation can impact the economic scenario. Still, it can be restricted if some of the above mentioned solutions are successfully implemented.
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Types
The types of asymmetric information theory can be classified as follows:
Another instance can be while opting for health insurance. It causes asymmetric information problems in the contract. The insured party may not disclose information about past health ailments (if any), which causes a gap in the information between the insurer and the insured.
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How To Reduce?
Below are the Solutions to the asymmetric information problem.
#1 – Availability of Information
This solution is of paramount importance, which involves creating greater consumer access to information. It is almost impossible to provide all the information, but sufficient information should be available for the user to make an educated decision. As a result, along with improved customer satisfaction, the overall quality of the product of the commodity can be improved. It paves the way for seamless communication and resolves many problems before they arise.
#2 – Guarantees & Warranties
These benefits offer a cushion to consumers against faulty products. It offers them the security that a particular product is of superior quality. It is useful in negotiating the prices as well. In case of any defects, the seller’s option of return/replacement is available for a given period.
Industries may set a few pre-conditions to be met for providing the goods and services. It ensures offering high-quality products and services in the market. Information asymmetry can be more harmful in adverse selection in the market. For instance, a person with good health conditions is less likely to opt for life insurance than someone who does not have optimum health conditions. A person can behave immorally before the transaction in the markets with asymmetric information, due to the information asymmetry problem. The health insurance company is empowered to increase all their premiums to compensate for the unavailable information and offset the risk of uncertainty. It means the riskiest people price out the less risky customers. Since health care markets are also a part of markets with asymmetric information, it’s essential to provide complete and true information to patients and vice-versa.
#5 – Monitoring & Controlling
Sufficient control and monitoring are other big challenges for the government. The government should assume responsibilities for intervening in all sectors with information gap problems. Without proper monitoring and controlling, firms may be impacted by various problems executed by illegal beneficiaries. Government regulations have to be structured and updated to minimize gaps, and one party is not taking advantage of the other. It has to be combined with strict monitoring and controlling processes.
#6 – Licensing & Liability Laws
These are part of consumer protection regulations requiring certain licenses/permits to sell goods and services. This law must be carefully set and regularly monitored. If licenses are not procured or cause an unacceptable increase in prices, it may lead to hoarding or black marketing practices. Firms can be subject to severe penalties if minimum industry standards are not set.
Asymmetric Information Vs Adverse Selection
Asymmetric information is the situation where two or more parties do some transaction where one party has more knowledge about the process than the other whereas adverse selection is the process where information is hidden to gain some advantage.
In the former’s case, there is an unequal level of information; in the latter’s case, information asymmetry is used to gain an advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does asymmetric information lead to market failure?
In any transaction, asymmetric information prevails when a party has information that the other does not. This situation may lead to market failure. That is why the accurate price cannot be fixed per the law of supply and demand.
How do banks reduce asymmetric information?
Information asymmetry in the lending market compares to other financial intermediaries. Banks are treated as insiders because they can gather proprietary information about firms through screening and monitoring, which discards the information asymmetry between the transaction parties.
What are the problems of asymmetric information in financial markets?
Asymmetric information is a problem in financial markets like borrowing and lending. In these markets, the borrower possesses better information about the financial state than the lender. As a result, the lender requires help knowing whether the borrower will likely default.
Are there regulatory measures to address asymmetric information?Â
Governments and regulatory bodies may implement various measures to mitigate the effects of asymmetric information. Examples include mandatory disclosure requirements, consumer protection laws, licensing and certification processes, and standardized reporting practices.
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