Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control (Development in Practice)

Addresses the economic and social issues that confront policymakers when dealing with tobacco control, and the impact of tobacco control policies on economies. Topics covered in the book include health aspects, economic fears, and the impact on economies and individuals. Now, For The First Time, The Economic Aspects Of Tobacco Control Are Assessed In A Single Concise Report That Reviews International Experience. The Report Concludes That Raising Taxes On Tobacco Could Save Millions Of Lives While Raising Government Revenues In The Medium Term, And That Other, Non-price Measures, Such As Comprehensive Bans On Cigarette Advertising And Promotion, Could Also Significantly Reduce Smoking. The Analysis Examines The Effects Of Tobacco Control Policies On Employment, And Finds That Most Countries Would Not Suffer Permanent Job Losses.--book Jacket. Global Trends In Tobacco Use -- The Costs And Consequences Of Tobacco Control -- Rising Consumption In Low-income And Middle-income Countries -- Regional Patterns In Smoking -- Smoking And Socioeconomic Status -- Age And The Uptake Of Smoking -- Global Patterns Of Quitting -- The Health Consequences Of Smoking -- The Addictive Nature Of Tobacco Smoking -- The Disease Burden -- Long Delays Between Exposure And Disease -- How Smoking Kills -- The Epidemic Varies In Place As Well As In Time -- Smoking And The Health Disadvantage Of The Poor -- The Risks From Others' Smoke -- Quitting Works -- Do Smokers Know Their Risks And Bear Their Costs? -- Awareness Of The Risks -- Youth, Addiction, And The Capacity To Make Sound Decisions -- Costs Imposed On Others -- Appropriate Responses For Governments -- Dealing With Addiction -- Measures To Reduce The Demand For Tobacco -- Raising Cigarette Taxes -- Nonprice Measures To Reduce Demand: Consumer Information, Bans On Advertising And Promotion, And Smoking Restrictions -- Nicotine Replacement Therapy And Other Cessation Interventions -- Measures To Reduce The Supply Of Tobacco -- The Limited Effectiveness Of Most Supply-side Interventions -- Firm Action On Smuggling -- The Costs And Consequences Of Tobacco Control -- Will Tobacco Control Harm The Economy? -- Is Tobacco Control Worth Paying For? -- An Agenda For Action -- Overcoming Political Barriers To Change -- Research Priorities -- Recommendations -- Tobacco Taxation: A View From The International Monetary Fund. Prabhat Jha, Frank J. Chaloupka. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Tobacco will kill 4 million people in the next 12 months. By 2030 it will be killing 10 million people a year, more than any other single cause, and 7 million of these deaths will be in low-income and middle-income countries, where cigarettes were once rare. As educated and prosperous people abandon smoking, the practice is becoming increasingly concentrated among the poor in most societies. In the rich countries at least, its damaging effects on health are responsible for a large part of the ill health and premature death of the poor. Yet many governments have hesitated to act to control tobacco because of concerns about the economic effects of their action. For example, many policymakers fear that by reducing tobacco consumption they will cause permanent unemployment.Now, for the first time, the economic aspects of tobacco control are assessed in a single, concise report that reviews international experience. The report concludes that raising taxes on tobacco could save millions of lives while raising government revenues in the medium term, and that other, non-price measures, such as comprehensive bans on cigarette advertising and promotion, could also significantly reduce smoking. The analysis examines the effects of tobacco control policies on employment, and finds that most countries would not suffer permanent job losses.The report examines the costs of control policies, and sets out an agenda for action for governments, including help for poor tobacco farmers. It also points to roles for the international agencies in reducing the avoidable toll of smoking-related premature death and disability. Annotation Addresses important economic and social issues confronting policymakers when dealing with the issue of tobacco control and its impact on the social and economic resources of both developed and developing countries.