E-Cigarette Taxation and Queer Youth

Anthony Chuo (), Chad D. Cotti (), Charles J. Courtemanche (), Johanna Catherine Maclean (), Erik T. Nesson () and Joseph J. Sabia ()
Additional contact information
Anthony Chuo: San Diego University
Chad D. Cotti: Michigan State University and Center for Demography of Health and Aging University of Wisconsin-Madison, https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/chad-cotti
Charles J. Courtemanche: Gatton College of Business and Economics University of Kentucky, Postal: Lexington, KY 40506-0034 and NBER, https://www.courtemanche.org/
Johanna Catherine Maclean: Schar School of Policy and Government George Mason University, Postal: Arlington, VA 22201 and NBER, https://www.jcatherinemaclean.com/
Erik T. Nesson: Wake Forest University, Economics Department, Postal: , Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 and NBER, https://sites.google.com/site/eriknesson/home
Joseph J. Sabia: Department of Economics Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies San Diego State University, Postal: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 and IZA & ESSPR, https://economics.sdsu.edu/faculty/sabia

No 122, Working Papers from Wake Forest University, Economics Department

Abstract: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) teenagers is over 30 percent higher than among their heterosexual counterparts. Yet little is known about how recent efforts to curb nicotine vaping through ENDS taxes impact sexual minorities. This study explores this question using data from the 2015-2021 State Youth Behavior Surveys. We find that a one-dollar (in 2021$) per mL of e-liquid increase in ENDS taxes reduces the likelihood of any prior-month ENDS use among heterosexual teens by about four percentage points and the likelihood of habitual vaping (as measured by frequent and everyday use) by about two percentage points. In sharp contrast, we find no evidence that ENDS taxes reduce any of the vaping measures for queer youths. The coefficient estimates are consistently less strongly negative for LGBQ than heterosexual youths, and the differences in effects on frequent and everyday vaping are statistically significant. Therefore, taxes widen disparities in vaping between queer and straight teens. The estimated effect of ENDS taxes on LGBQ teens who do not report being depressed, suicidal, or bullied is similar to the effect among heterosexuals, suggesting that LGBQ youths’ tax insensitivity may be explained by their dependence on e-cigarettes to cope with unique stress-related psychological challenges.

Keywords: ENDS taxes; youth e-cigarette use; LGBQ teens; sexual minorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2025-01-27
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-pub
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