The Mortality Cost to Smokers

W Viscusi and Joni Hersch

No 13599, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This article estimates the mortality cost of smoking based on the first labor market estimates of the value of statistical life by smoking status. Using these values in conjunction with the increase in the mortality risk over the life cycle due to smoking, the value of statistical life by age and gender, and information on the number of packs smoked over the life cycle, produces an estimate of the private mortality cost of smoking of $222 per pack for men and $94 per pack for women in 2006 dollars, based on a 3 percent discount rate. At discount rates of 15 percent or more, the cost decreases to under $25 per pack.

JEL-codes: I12 I18 J17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
Note: EH LE LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published as Viscusi, W. Kip & Hersch, Joni, 2008. "The mortality cost to smokers," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 943-958, July.

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Journal Article: The mortality cost to smokers (2008)
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