How do prices of manufactured cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco affect demand for these products? Tobacco price elasticity in Western Balkan countries

Abstract

Background and objectiveNumerous studies have indicated that tobacco taxation is one of the most important policies to reduce tobacco consumption. However, its effectiveness crucially depends on consumer responses to price increases, that is, tobacco price elasticities. This paper analyses tobacco price elasticity in six Western Balkan countries.Data and methodsWe estimate own-price and cross-price elasticities of manufactured cigarettes (MCs) and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco by using the methodological framework of the two-part model, regional variation in prices and 2019 Survey on Tobacco Consumption in Southeastern European countries (STC-SEE). STC-SEE provides a uniquely comparable nationally representative data on smoking behaviour for adult (18–85 years old) population for each country.ResultsResults suggest that higher prices of MCs are associated with lower prevalence of MC use, while higher prices of RYO are associated with lower intensity of RYO use. Furthermore, regions with higher MC prices have a higher likelihood of using RYO over MC, suggesting that RYO is used as a cheaper alternative to MC. Lastly, lower smoking prevalence and intensity are associated with more smoking restrictions and support for tobacco price increases.ConclusionResults suggest that, aiming to decrease smoking prevalence and intensity, governments should increase excises on all tobacco products. Since RYO is a cheaper alternative to MC, the increase of excises on RYO should be higher, so that after excise increase, the prices of the two products are approximately the same. To further reduce tobacco consumption, governments should combine increasing taxes on tobacco products with non-price measures, such as stricter smoking restrictions and smoke-free regulations.

Economic cost of cigarette smoking in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…At the same time, smoking intensity is between 14.5 (BiH) and 20.8 cigarettes per day (Kosovo). 4 Although smoking intensity in BiH is very high, it is the lowest among the six Southeastern European countries; however, its smoking prevalence is the second largest in the region. With such high smoking prevalence and intensity, smoking-attributable healthcare costs represent a…”

Correlates of susceptibility to tobacco use among never-smoking youth in four eastern and southern European countries

“…Effective tobacco control policies, awareness of negative effects of smoking, education, and smoking cessation interventions are key to reducing tobacco use [21][22][23]. Studies show that an increase in cigarette prices and taxes implemented by governments results in a significant decrease in the use of these tobacco products by young people [24][25][26][27][28][29]. While implementing measures aimed at reducing smoking-related harm, the cooperation of young people and their needs should be taken into account.…”