Responding to Your Cigarette Tax Scorecard Questions
As many of you may know, the Economics for Health team released the fourth edition of the Cigarette Tax Scorecard, with a launch webinar at the end of 2025. We were very excited to see the level of engagement with the Scorecard, including in terms of the technical aspects, as well as the broader findings and their policy implications. Bel... Read More about Responding to Your Cigarette Tax Scorecard Questions
Press Release: Fourth Cigarette Tax Scorecard Shows Limited Progress, Substantial Opportunity for Governments
The fourth edition of the Economics for Health Cigarette Tax Scorecard (formerly released under “Tobacconomics”) is out today, December 15, 2025, and shows that most governments are not implementing best practices in tobacco taxation. Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death, and tobacco taxes remain the m... Read More about Press Release: Fourth Cigarette Tax Scorecard Shows Limited Progress, Substantial Opportunity for GovernmentsTobacco Tax Increases Around the World– Summer 2025 Update
Thus far, 2025 has been a challenging year for governments fiscally, with economic instability and budgetary shortfalls experienced around the world, most notably to support health and education programs. Health taxes—and especially tobacco taxes—provide an opportunity for policy makers to improve the health of the population,... Read More about Tobacco Tax Increases Around the World– Summer 2025 Update
Do Cigarette Tax Hikes Increase the Illegal Market? Brazil's Data Says No
Increasing tobacco taxes is the single most effective and cost-effective tool to reduce smoking, reduce health care costs, and increase government excise tax revenues. Despite considerable evidence supporting higher tobacco excise taxes, policy makers–particularly in low- and middle-income countries–have been slow to adopt suc... Read More about Do Cigarette Tax Hikes Increase the Illegal Market? Brazil's Data Says No
Developments in the Western Balkans Signal Crucial Progress in Tobacco Control in the Region
Economics for Health began working with think tanks in the Western Balkans back in 2018, (under our previous name, “Tobacconomics”). Since then, we have explored the economics of tobacco control and especially tobacco taxes across the region and shared these results with decision makers and other stakeholders. As this evidence... Read More about Developments in the Western Balkans Signal Crucial Progress in Tobacco Control in the RegionPress Release: Leading Think Tank on Health Impacts of Fiscal Policies Rebrands as Economics for Health
The following is a statement by Dr. Jeffrey Drope, Director of Economics for Health. “Decades of data on global burden of disease and mortality are clear. Increasingly, preventable deaths around the world are being driven by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, which now give rise to 74% of... Read More about Press Release: Leading Think Tank on Health Impacts of Fiscal Policies Rebrands as Economics for HealthTobacco Control Community Unites to Protect Youth: World No Tobacco Day 2024
On World No Tobacco Day 2024, we are joining the tobacco control community and sounding warning bells about the concerning trends in youth smoking around the world. Surveys from around the world show that youth tobacco prevalence is either increasing or staying the same in nearly half of countries where recent data are available (learn mo... Read More about Tobacco Control Community Unites to Protect Youth: World No Tobacco Day 2024