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Byline: Peter Zweifel (1) Keywords: risk; information; smoking; policy Abstract: This paper purports to develop a simple microeconomic model designed to shed light on behavioral change induced by improved information about smoking risks. It predicts the conditions in which improved information indeed increases the demand for cigarettes. After recalling the economic rationale of an anti-tobacco policy, the article points out a few startling implications of improved information about the risks of smoking. Author Affiliation: (1) Socioeconomic Institute, University of Zurich, Hottingerstr. 10, CH-8032, Zurich, Switzerland Article History: Registration Date: 03/10/2004

Byline: W. Kip Viscusi (1), Irineu Carvalho (2,3), Fernando Antonanzas (4), Joan Rovira (5), Francisco J. Brana (6), Fabiola Portillo (4) Keywords: cigarettes; smoking; risk perception Abstract: Using original survey data from Spain, this paper assesses the determinants of smoking behavior. This study examines the effect on smoking of the most diverse set of risk measures ever considered: lung cancer, relative lung cancer risks, lung disease, heart disease, relative heart disease risks, lost life expectancy to smokers, and various risk measures for passive smoking. Smoking measures include cigarette smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked, and pipe and cigar smoking. Primary smoking risks have a more consistent negative effect on smoking than perceived passive smoking risks. Author Affiliation: (1) Harvard Law School, Harvard University, USA (2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (3) Harvard Law School, USA (4) Universidad de La Rioja, Argentina (5) Universidad Central de Barcelona, Spain (6) Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Article History: Registration Date: 19/10/2004

Byline: Joan Rovira (1), W. Kip Viscusi (2), Fernando Antonanzas (3), Joan Costa (1), Warren Hart (4), Irineu Carvalho (5,6) Keywords: cigarettes; risk perception; passive smoking; environmental tobacco smoke Abstract: Previous studies of smoking risk beliefs have focused almost exclusively on risks to the smoker. Using an original set of survey data from Spain, we examine the public's perceived risks from exposures to environmental tobacco smoke. The risk categories considered included lung cancer, heart disease, life expectancy loss, and low birth weight for children of smoking mothers. Risk beliefs were quite high, often dwarfing scientific estimates of the risk. The results are consistent with overestimation of risks from highly publicized, low probability events. Author Affiliation: (1) Universidad Central de Barcelona, Spain (2) Harvard Law School, Harvard University, USA (3) Universidad de La Rioja, Argentina (4) Soikos, Barcelona (5) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (6) Harvard Law School, USA Article History: Registration Date: 19/10/2004

I investigate the determinants of the hazard rates of both starting and quitting the cigarette smoking habit. The model is an ordered probit split-sample duration model with lagged duration dependence and time-varying covariates (cigarette price and regulation). Duration of the smoking habit is approximately unitary elastic with respect to cigarette price. The hazard rate of starting smoking peaks sharply and quickly declines before age 20. Both nonparametric and parametric results indicate that the quitting hazard rate rises with the habit's duration, a result at odds with survey data but consistent with the economic model of rational addiction., I. INTRODUCTION Most smokers smoke out of habit. Once the habit is ended, many of smoking's most harmful effects decline rather quickly. Preventing and ending cigarette addiction is, therefore, the [...]

The demand for cigarettes in South Africa during the period 1970-89 was examined to help weigh the social cost versus the economic benefits of the tobacco industry. Per capita consumption is determined more by price and disposable income than advertising. The demand model was used to compute price and income elasticities and consumers' surplus. If habit overrules full information in smoking decisions, the consumers' surplus for cigarette consumption will still be significantly higher than the estimated health costs of smoking as computed by the South African Medical Research Council.

Fire-safe cigarettes occupy an important niche in workplace safety programs. Fires started by cigarettes pose a significant threat to employee safety, whether at home or on corporate premises. Although federal studies indicate that developing a fire-safe cigarette is feasible from economic and technological perspectives, legislation mandating its development has not yet been successful.