The Effects of Cigarette Prices and Tobacco Control Programs on Youth Smoking Initiation in a U.S. Sample of Adolescents

Posted: 26 Jun 2007

Date Written: July 1, 2007

Abstract

Rationale: Since 1998, funding for state tobacco control programs in the U.S. increased marketedly, including several states that focused on preventing youth smoking. In addition, cigarette prices have increased considerably over this same timeframe. There has been considerable debate in the literature about the true effects of cigarette prices on youth smoking initiation.

Objective: In using a longitudinal national panel of youth ages 12-17 at baseline (1997) and 7 follow-up waves, we model the effects of both cigarette prices, exposure to a national anti-smoking campaign and funding for tobacco control program on youth smoking initiation and cessation over this time period.

Methods: We model smoking using intiation to any smoking, experimental smoking (smoked 1-19 days in the last month), and established smoking (smoked on 20+ days in the last month). We code transitions to different smoking states from baseline to the last follow-up and model this change with a logistic regression. The independent variables of interest include state cigarette prices, funding for tobacco control programs, and media market level exposure to anti-smoking campaigns. We also use a discrete time hazard model using all waves of data. We test the sensitivity of the results to various specifications, including the inclusion of state fixed effects and various methods of modeling funding for tobacco control programs (e.g., cumulative funding versus annual funding).

Results: We find that cigarette prices are associated with progression to established smoking, but not experimental smoking. We also found that exposure to a national anti-smoking campaign was associated with experimental smoking and established smoking. The results for the effects of state tobacco control program funding varied based on specification.

Conclusions: Various state tobacco control interventions can be an effective method for curbing youth smoking. Results are influenced by the inclusion of state fixed effects.

Keywords: Cigarettes, taxes, interventions

JEL Classification: I10, H72, C23

Suggested Citation

Farrelly, Matthew C. and Nonnemaker, James, The Effects of Cigarette Prices and Tobacco Control Programs on Youth Smoking Initiation in a U.S. Sample of Adolescents (July 1, 2007). iHEA 2007 6th World Congress: Explorations in Health Economics Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=996497

Matthew C. Farrelly (Contact Author)

RTI International ( email )

PO Box 12194
Health, Social and Economics Research 3040 Cornwallis Rd.
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
United States

James Nonnemaker

RTI International ( email )

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