Journal of Economic Literature
ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)
The Economics of Tobacco Regulation: A Comprehensive Review
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 60,
no. 3, September 2022
(pp. 883–970)
Abstract
Tobacco regulation has been a major component of health policy in the developed world since the UK Royal College of Physicians' and the US Surgeon General's reports in the 1960s. Such regulation, which has intensified in the past two decades, includes cigarette taxation, place-based smoking bans in areas ranging from bars and restaurants to workplaces, and regulations designed to make tobacco products less desirable. More recently, the availability of alternative products, most notably e-cigarettes, has increased dramatically, and these products are just starting to be regulated. Despite an extensive body of research on tobacco regulations, there remains substantial debate regarding their effectiveness, and ultimately, their impact on economic welfare. We provide the first comprehensive review of the state of research in the economics of tobacco regulation in two decades.Citation
DeCicca, Philip, Donald Kenkel, and Michael F. Lovenheim. 2022. "The Economics of Tobacco Regulation: A Comprehensive Review." Journal of Economic Literature, 60 (3): 883–970. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20201482Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D62 Externalities
- H25 Business Taxes and Subsidies including sales and value-added (VAT)
- H26 Tax Evasion and Avoidance
- I12 Health Behavior
- K32 Environmental, Energy, Health, and Safety Law
- L51 Economics of Regulation
- L66 Food; Beverages; Cosmetics; Tobacco; Wine and Spirits