Smoking and economic incentives in Europe.
This paper reviews the agenda for economic research near the beginning of a formative period for policy marked by much greater involvement by the EC (European Community). There are few signs as yet of any diffusion process at work in Europe to bring about reductions in smoking. Effective use of incentives will be needed to bring about reductions in smoking by 2000 and to stop yet further massive increases in mortality from smoking related disease. Research is needed on price and income elasticities in Europe as the EC introduces new policies for raising cigarette taxes and prices. Currently most estimates are based on US and UK data. There is also an important research agenda on the decision-making process in Europe covering the policy response of national governments and professions as well as the future role of the EC Commission. Finally, research is needed on the micro-economic determinants of the demand for tobacco products across Europe by households. Household data from family expenditure surveys are now available across Europe so that it is now possible to construct micro demand systems for each European country.
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RHBNC, University of London.
Trigg
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D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005062:European Union / Q000191:economics*; D005544:Forecasting; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention