Do Tobacco Taxes Harm the Poor in Latin America?: A Review of Evidence from the Region

July 28, 2022 Around the world, countries continue to face challenges in the implementation of best practices in tobacco taxation (learn more in the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard). Historically, tobacco control efforts were limited by a lack of local economic evidence on the effect of policies, especially tobacco taxation. To address this issue, Tobacconomics began to partner with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries in 2017. Six research core competencies (presented as questions in the table below) guide the evidence produced under the Think Tanks Project, ensuring that findings are relevant and timely for fiscal policy development. We hope that this research leads to the implementation of more effective tax policies. Read More

Do Tobacco Taxes Harm the Poor in Asia?: A Review of Evidence from the Region

July 27, 2022 In an effort to build the evidence base on the economics of tobacco taxation in low- and middle-income countries, Tobacconomics has been working with local think tanks since 2017. The evidence produced under the Think Tanks Project addresses the questions outlined in six research core competency questions (shown below). Each of these questions represents an important topic of discussion in fiscal policy development. We hope that policy makers will use these findings to guide and improve tobacco taxation policies (check out the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard to learn about current policies). Read More

The Potential Benefits of Effective Cigarette Tax Policies: Evidence from Southeastern Europe

July 22, 2022 Since 2017, Tobacconomics has worked with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries to produce economic evidence on tobacco control. For this evidence to be timely and relevant, we focus on six research core competencies (shown below), which reflect current tax policy discussions. The findings can be used to inform more effective tobacco taxation, as most governments are currently failing to implement best practices (check out the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard to learn about current policies). Read More

The Potential Benefits of Effective Cigarette Tax Policies: Evidence from Latin America

July 21, 2022 As part of the Tobacconomics Think Tank Project, we have been partnering with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries to produce economic evidence on effective tobacco taxation. Through our work, we set out to answer six questions that guide our research core competencies (shown below), which reflect common arguments made by the industry against effective tobacco taxation. It is crucial to address these concerns because currently, most countries are failing to implement best practices for cigarette tax policies (check out the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard to learn about current policies). As a result, governments are missing out on the fiscal and public health benefits from effective cigarette tax policies.  Read More

The Potential Benefits of Effective Cigarette Tax Policies: Evidence from Asia

July 21, 2022 Over the last several years, Tobacconomics has partnered with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries to produce local evidence on the economics of tobacco taxation. Our research efforts are guided by six research core competencies (shown below), which represent timely and relevant topics of discussion related to tobacco taxes. Despite the body of global evidence on the benefits of effective tobacco taxation, most countries are missing out due to ineffective tax policies (check out the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard to learn about current policies). Read More

Tobacco Taxes Work! Consumer Responses to Cigarette Price Increases- Evidence from Think Tanks in Southeastern Europe

July 14, 2022 In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) around the world, governments are failing to reap the benefits of effective tobacco taxation. Under the Think Tanks Project, Tobacconomics has been partnering with think tanks since 2017 to produce the economic evidence needed to inform effective policies to reap public health and fiscal benefits of well-designed tobacco taxes. The six research core competencies (shown below) provide a broad framework for the research. Read More

Tobacco Taxes Work! Consumer Responses to Cigarette Price Increases- Evidence from Think Tanks in Latin America

July 13, 2022 Over the last five years, Tobacconomics has been partnering with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop the necessary economic evidence base for effective tobacco control. The six questions that inform the core competencies (shown below) are based on current tobacco tax policy discussions and guide our research efforts, ensuring that the findings can be utilized to inform policy. Read More

Tobacco Taxes Work! Consumer Responses to Cigarette Price Increases- Evidence from Think Tanks in Asia

July 12, 2022 Five years ago, we began partnering with think tanks in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a part of the Think Tanks Project to produce evidence on the economics of tobacco taxation. The research produced under these partnerships is guided by six research competencies (shown below). Each competency asks a question which is relevant for current policy discussions around the globe. Read More

Tax Increases Around the World– July 2022 Update

July 11, 2022 As we shared in January, several countries around the world are taking necessary steps to reduce cigarette consumption by raising taxes on tobacco products. The body of research continues to grow more robust showing tax increases are the most effective and cost-effective policy tool to encourage smokers to quit, discourage young people from starting to use cigarettes, and generate revenue to offset the public health costs of tobacco use. While we described the policy changes announced at the beginning of 2022 as “modestly beneficial”, additional tax increases announced in recent months build upon the momentum of this progress. Read More

Tobacco Control Celebrates Thirty Years

March 31, 2022 Tobacco Control released its 30th anniversary issue this month, marking three decades of important research conducted across the globe to expose the dangers of the tobacco industry and provide evidence-based policy interventions. As editor-in-chief Dr. Ruth Malone notes in her editorial, this milestone calls for celebration of the policies and practices that have changed as a result of the impressive body of research published and the lives saved as a result. It is also, however, grounds for mourning as three decades later the tobacco epidemic persists and millions of lives continue to be lost to tobacco addiction and its secondhand effects. Read More