Cigarette demand behavior: effects of smoking bans in Brazil

Abstract

Smoking is considered a problem of public health and an economic issue, because it is a risk factor for several chronic diseases, generates costs for the health system and reduces worker productivity. Because of it, several measures have been adopted globally to control tobacco use and its adverse effects. Among these measures there are smoking bans. In Brazil, the national law was adopted from December 2014. Before of it, however, there were already in place local laws in some federal units and state capitals, especially from 2009. Using the regional variation of the local legislation, the study aims to evaluate the impact of the smoking bans policies in the average daily consumption and in the prevalence of cigarette use by adults and schoolaryoungs. The method adopted will be diff-in-diff. Microdata research is provided from the Tobacco Special Research (PETab) 2008, the National Health Research (PNS) 2013 and the National Health Research of Scholars (PeNSE) 2009, 2012 and 2015. The impact evaluation of smoking bans policy will enable a better understanding of the effectiveness of the Brazilian anti-smoking policy in controlling consumption and initiation to smoking and, therefore, in improving public health. (AU)