Effects of cigarette tax on cigarette consumption and the Chinese economy.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse a policy dilemma in China on public health versus the tobacco economy through additional cigarette tax.


METHODS
Using published statistics from 1980 through 1997 to estimate the impact of tobacco production and consumption on government revenue and the entire economy. These estimates relied on the results of estimated price elasticities of the demand for cigarettes in China.


RESULTS
Given the estimated price elasticities (-0.54), by introducing an additional 10% increase in cigarette tax per pack (from the current 40% to 50% tax rate), the central government tax revenue would twice exceed total losses in industry revenue, tobacco farmers' income, and local tax revenue. In addition, between 1.44 and 2.16 million lives would be saved by this tax increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional taxation on cigarettes in China would be a desirable public policy for the Chinese government to consider.
Hu
T W
TW
University of California at Berkeley, California 94720, USA. thu@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Mao
Z
Z
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics*; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000191:economics*; D062789:Tobacco Products