Cigarette Taxes, Smoking, and Health in the Long-Run
Medical experts have argued forcefully that using cigarettes harms health, prompting the adoption of myriad anti-smoking policies. The association between smoking and mortality may, however, be driven by unobserved factors, making it difficult to discern the underlying long-term causal relationship. In this study, we explore the effects of cigarette taxes experienced as a teenager, which are arguably exogenous, on adult smoking participation and mortality. A one-dollar increase in teenage cigarette taxes is associated with an 8 percent reduction in adult smoking participation and a 6 percent reduction in mortality. Mortality effects are most pronounced for heart disease and lung cancer.
Non-Technical Summaries
- Author(s): Rahi AboukCharles J. CourtemancheDhaval M. DaveBo FengAbigail S. FriedmanJohanna Catherine MacleanMichael F. PeskoJoseph J. SabiaSam SaffordAndrew I. FriedsonMoyan LiKatherine MeckelDaniel I. ReesDaniel W. SacksIn two recent NBER working papers, researchers use variation in the taxation of tobacco products — including both cigarettes and e-...
Published Versions
Andrew Friedson & Moyan Li & Katherine Meckel & Daniel I. Rees & Daniel W. Sacks, 2023. "Cigarette taxes, smoking, and health in the long run," Journal of Public Economics, vol 222. citation courtesy of 
Related
More from NBER
In addition to working papers, the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter, the NBER Digest, the Bulletin on Retirement and Disability, the Bulletin on Health, and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship — as well as online conference reports, video lectures, and interviews.
