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by Frank Chaloupka Henry Wechsler National
Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. The effects of cigarette
prices and tobacco control policies (including restrictions on smoking
in public places and limits on the availability of tobacco products to
youths) on cigarette smoking among youths and young adults are estimated
using data from a national representative survey of students in U.S. colleges
and universities. Smoking participation rates, the quantity of cigarettes
smoked by smokers, and level of smoking equations are estimated using
appropriate econometric methods. The estimates indicate that college students
are quite sensitive to the price of cigarettes, with an average estimated
price elasticity of smoking participation of -0.66 and an overall average
estimated price elasticity of cigarette smoking of -1.43. In addition,
relatively stringent restrictions on smoking in public places are found
to reduce smoking participation rates among colleges students, while the
quantity of cigarettes consumed by smokers is lowered by any restrictions
on public smoking. Finally, limits on the availability of tobacco products
to underage youths have no impact on college students, almost all of whom
can legally purchase these products.
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