Cigarette taxes, prices, and disparities in current smoking in the United States. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalousova, Lucie; Levy, David; Titus, Andrea R.; Meza, Rafael; Thrasher, James F.; Elliott, Michael R.; Fleischer, Nancy L.
• Is Part Of: SSM - population health. Volume 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Tobacco -- Tax -- Cigarette -- Disparities -- SES -- USA; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100686
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8273

Abstract

Abstract: Increasing cigarette taxes has been the cornerstone of tobacco control policy. Recent work has argued that raising cigarette taxes alone may no longer be an effective strategy for lowering smoking rates. We largely confirm these findings but also find that increases in price continue to predict lower smoking participation in most model specifications. We argue that raising cigarette prices via taxation remains an effective public health policy. We discuss the advantages of homogeneous tax environments and minimum price laws for eliminating opportunities for consumers to offset tax increases by searching for lowest taxes. Highlights: Recent research has found weakened effect of taxes on smoking. The study contrasts the effect of taxes with the effect of prices. The association between taxes and smoking is weak. The association between smoking and prices remains robust. Lower education and income predict greater sensitivity to prices.