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Price, Tobacco Control Policies and Youth Smoking ABSTRACT This paper
examines effectiveness of several tobacco control policies
in discouraging cigarette smoking among youths. These
policies include increased cigarette excise taxes (which
result in higher cigarette prices), restrictions on smoking
in public places and at private worksites, and limits on the
availability of tobacco products to youths. The data
employed in this research are taken from the 1992, 1993, and
1994 surveys of eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students
conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for
Social Research as part of the Monitoring the Future
Project. Site specific cigarette prices and measures of
tobacco related policies are added to the survey data. The
results indicate that tobacco control policies can be
effective in reducing youth cigarette smoking. The average
overall estimated price elasticity of youth cigarette demand
of 1.313 indicates that large increases in cigarette excise
taxes would lead to sharp reductions in youth smoking.
Similarly, strong restrictions on smoking in public places
would reduce the prevalence of smoking among youths, while
limits on smoking in schools would reduce average cigarette
consumption among young smokers. However, limits on youth
access to tobacco products appear to have little impact on
youth cigarette smoking. This is most likely the result of
the relatively weak enforcement of these laws.
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