5090.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 1:42 PM

Abstract #16370

The impact of price on youth smoking

Hanna Ross, BA1, Frank Chaloupka, PhD2, and Pacula Rosalie, PhD2. (1) Department of Economics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, 312-413-2367, hzarub1@uic.edu, (2) National Bureau of Economic Research, Chicago, IL 60607

Prior research provides mixed evidence on the impact of cigarette prices on youth and young adult cigarette smoking. This paper uses unique data collected in a recent nationally representative survey of approximately 23,000 youth and young adults to examine this issue further. This survey contains more detailed information on smoking behavior than those used in prior analyses, and includes unique data on respondents' expected reactions to varying increases in cigarette prices. In addition, these data contain unique information on cigarette prices collected from respondents and from retail outlets near survey respondents. Econometric methods are employed to examine the impact of cigarette prices on smoking prevalence, number of days smoked, cigarettes smoked per day, cessation efforts, and other aspects of smoking behavior. The estimates confirm that higher cigarette prices reduce youth and young adult cigarette smoking and that price sensitivity is inversely related to age.

Learning Objectives: 1. Describe changes in adolescent smoking behavior in response to price changes. 2. Describe how prince sensitivity is related to age. 3. Discuss how these data can inform the future development of tobacco control and policy

Keywords: Smoking, Economic Analysis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA