Tobacco tax and price in the developed and developing countries in the World

Abstract

An ecologic study was conducted on 177 countries which the information of tobacco tax and price and also Human Development Index (HDI) was available in 2014. In this study, the relationship between HDI and four reported indexes by World Health Organization (WHO) was studied. These four indexes included: Tobacco affordability, Taxes as a percent of price of the most sold brand (total tax), Price of a 20 cigarette pack of the most sold brand international dollars at purchasing power parity (Price_ppp) and Price of a 20 cigarette pack of the most sold brand in US$ at official exchange rates (Price_US$). The data of HDI and tobacco were mined from WHO and United Nations Development Programme sites respectively. To study the correlation between HDI and the variables of this study, Pearson correlation coefficient was used and also Linear Regression Analysis was used to study the relationship between HDI and the variables of the study. According to the findings of the linear regression analysis, there was a significant relationship between HDI and total tax (B = 0.81, CI 95%: 0.63–0.99) and tobacco affordability (B = --0.35, CI 95%: --0.42 _ --0.28). There was also a significant relationship between HDI whit price-ppp (B = 9.44, CI 95%: 7.13–11.75) and price-US$ ;(B = 11.97, CI 95%: 9.71–14.23). According to the findings of this study, less developed countries devote less tax on tobacco. Due to the rising trend of the prevalence and also development of non-communicable diseases such as lung cancer in developing countries, policy makers of these countries are required to design stricter policies toward tobacco production and supply as well.

The impact of tax reforms on human development index: Literature review approach

“…In most cases, the introduction of specific taxes in financing HDI is encouraged since they are both much effective in financing and prohibitive like Sin Taxes (Riahi et al, 2018; UNDP, 2015a). In China, the Philippines, and South Africa, tax reforms were made to increase tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products referred to as ‘SIN TAX’ which aimed at increasing revenue as well as protecting society against the consumption of unhealthy products (GHD, 2015; UNDP, 2015a).…”

The conquest of lung cancer in Central Europe

“…In summary, the conquest of lung cancer overall, and especially in the EU, should involve simultaneously three axes: a strongly dedicated effort to ban tobacco use, especially in youth; there are many approaches for that but increasing the price of tobacco is one of the most important as tobacco cost is a major regulator of its use [22]; a widely accessible program for early lung cancer detection, taking into account that it should be coupled with measures for discouraging people from continuing to smoke; and a widespread access of patients with lung cancer to new targeted therapies.…”

“…Clearly, some countries do better than others to control the lung cancer epidemics, and the CEE countries are not top of the class, although scientists from that part of the world are well aware of the situation [21]. Various recommendations for improvement in cancer control in CEE (namely lung cancer) have been made by experts and wait for the politically rings to take their responsibilities [22]. Today, a uniform cancer policy in Europe has not been achieved yet, but the European Union could help and monitor overall investments in cancer care in CEE.…”

“…To achieve these three goals, political will and involvement from governments is essential. Today in Europe (and worldwide), some countries do much better than other in fighting lung cancer mortality, namely as the price of tobacco products is concerned [22]. These programs should be the leading examples for efforts to be concentrated when the control of lung cancer is suboptimal.…”

Assessment and prioritization of the WHO “best buys” and other recommended interventions for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Iran

“…Preventive tobacco-related interventions have a top priority in Iran, as also endorsed in related national policies. Nonetheless, when it comes to implementation, despite the MoHME's recent efforts to increase imported and retail tobacco taxes, such taxes in Iran have consistently been among the lowest globally [63]. Let alone, illicit trade in tobacco exacerbates the burden of tobacco use in Iran and the region [64].…”