Unemployment Rate, Smoking in China: Are They Related?

Abstract

Background: Studies on the relationship between unemployment rate and smoking have yielded mixed results. The issue in China has not been studied. This study aims to examine the influence of unemployment rate on smoking in China. Methods: Logit model and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation were used to estimate the effects. Estimations were done for 4585 individual over 45 using data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted in Zhejiang and Gansu provinces in 2008 and 2012. Results: A percent increase in the unemployment rate resulted in the increase in the likelihood of smoking by a combined 9.1 percent for those who smoked including a 2.9% increase for those who smoked 1–10 cigarettes per day; a 2.8% increase for those who smoked 11–20 cigarettes per day; and a 3.4% increase for those who smoked 20 cigarettes or more per day. The effects were stronger for those who were employed. Non-drinkers were more likely to engage in smoking with increased unemployment rate. 2SLS estimation revealed the same association. Conclusions: The unemployment rate was positively associated with smoking behavior. Smoking control and intervention strategies should focus on both the individual′s characteristics and the physical environment in which unemployment rate tend to rise.

The relation between cigarette taxes and older adult smoking in Zhejiang and Gansu: what happened following the 2009 Chinese Tax adjustments?

“…Furthermore, considering the tax adjustment is a profit policy, smokers may attribute smoking behavior to support the work of countries in increasing tax revenue, which make smokers be easy to accept behavioral consequences resulting from smoking [ 18 ]. Especially in the period, affected by the global economic fluctuations, China experienced economic fluctuations, which may expand the motive to respond to the profit tax adjustment [ 36 ]. In addition, smokers may experience short-term benefits from smoking, such as relieves in anxiety, which may help people to ease stresses resulting from a rapid changing environment, which result in increasing smoking [ 37 ].…”

“…Smokers have higher risks of developing debilitating and often serious illnesses such as chronic diseases. The chemicals in tobacco damage the way body heals itself [ 36 , 38 ]. In short, smoking decreases the individuals’ health capital in the long-run.…”

Income, occupation and education: Are they related to smoking behaviors in China?

“…Smoker was classified as respondents who have ever smoked or currently smoke. Cigarette consumption was defined as the number of cigarettes an individual smoked per day, which was based on the responses to the following question from the CHARLS questionnaire: “How many cigarettes do you smoke each day now?” Moreover, log transformation of cigarette consumption was used for the analysis to minimize skewness [ 37 ].…”

Individual and Regional Characteristics Associated with Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy in Japan: Healthy Parents and Children 21

“…The unemployment rate is also known to be related to the difficulty in smoking cessation [30], type 2 diabetes [31], and participation rate in health checks [32]. These factors are also known to be similarly related to the social capital of the regions [33][34][35].…”