Suppose you have just inherited \(10,400 and are considering the following options for investing the money to maximize your return:
Option 1: Put the money in an interest-bearing checking account that earns 3%. The FDIC insures the account against bank failure.
Option 2: Invest the money in a corporate bond with a stated return of 6%, although there is a 10% chance the company could go bankrupt.
Option 3: Loan the money to one of your friend’s roommates, Ayesha, at an agreed-upon interest rate of 7%, but you believe there is a 7% chance that she will leave town without repaying you.
Option 4: Hold the money in cash and earn zero return.
a. If you are risk-neutral (that is, neither seek out nor shy away from risk), which of the four options should you choose to maximize your expected return? (Hint: To calculate the expected return of an outcome, multiply the probability that an event will occur by the outcome of that event and then add them up.)
b. Assume that Option 3 and Option 4 are your only choices. If you could pay your friend \)50 to find out extra information about Ayesha that would indicate with certainty whether she will leave town without paying, would you pay the $50? What does this say about the value of better information regarding risk?
