This paper contrasts consumer choice under uncertain lifetimes with the behavior that would arise if each individual's lifetime were announced at birth. In a model that includes life insurance and excludes investments in human capital, the expected utility under uncertain lifetimes exceeds that...

A very general model with which many theories of oligopolistic behavior might be tested would be a useful tool for economists. In the first part of this paper a model is proposed for this role. The model is not developed in the fullest degree of generality, but is presented in the way most...