The Economics of Smoking Bans

Charles de Bartolome () and Ian Irvine ()

No 201027, Working Papers from Geary Institute, University College Dublin

Abstract: While the empirical literature on smoking bans is extensive, little theory has been developed. This paper examines the welfare impact of smoking bans in an economy where smokers’ utility is reduced by a workplace/public place ban. The government has two instruments - increasing the price through taxation, or limiting when the product can be consumed through a ban. Its ability to reduce smoking through taxation is limited by a black market where cigarettes are not taxed. We show that the quantity instrument (ban) is always welfareenhancing. The model has application to other addictive activities.

Keywords: smoking; workplace ban; public place ban; government control; taxation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 48 pages
Date: 2010-05-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-mic, nep-pbe and nep-reg
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucd:wpaper:201027

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