Showing papers by "Thomas E. Novotny published in 1995"

Criteria for determining an optimal cigarette tax: the economist's perspective

Abstract: Correspondence to: Kenneth E Warner, Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 S Observatory, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA Abstract In the debate on cigarette taxation, both supporters and opponents of higher taxes often appeal to economic theory and analysis. To evaluate the criteria for defining an optimal cigarette excise tax from the perspective of economics, the Office on Smoking and Health of the US Centers for Disease Control and Preven tion convened a meeting of economists on 5 May 1995, Meeting participants acknowledged that, by itself, neither the discipline of economics nor any other could determine what is socially "right" or "wrong". However, the economist's understanding of efficiency and equity in the workings of the marketplace can inform the debate, offering insights rele vant to assessing the merits of tax pro posals and of arguments supporting or opposing such proposals. In this paper, the efficiency and equity considerations that economists use in evaluating the desirability of a tax are described and applied to the case of cigarettes. It is concluded that at present neither the arguments of tax increase advocates nor those of opponents are well grounded in economic analysis per se. Additional research based knowledge of the costs imposed on people other than the im mediate consumers of cigarettes, es pecially those related to environmental tobacco smoke, is needed, as is further understanding of children's respon siveness to cigarette price changes. Protection of children constitutes the strongest argument favouring increased taxation of cigarettes.

Environmental and Policy Interventions to Control Tobacco Use and Prevent Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract: Despite its declining prevalence during the past few decades, tobacco use remains one of the most significant public health issues of the 1990s. Environmental and policy interventions are among the most cost-effective approaches to control tobacco use and prevent cardiovascular diseases. In this article, the authors review and offer to state and local health departments and other public health partners a summary of recommended policy and environmental interventions that have either reduced or show potential to reduce tobacco use. Priority recommendations include clean indoor air policies, restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotion, policies limiting youth access to tobacco, comprehensive school health programs, and excise taxes and other economic incentives. Many of these recommendations should be integrated with other health promotion interventions to also improve nutrition and physical activity. The authors also highlight several successful interventions and strategies used to establish policies at the state and local levels.

Medical Care Expenditures Attributable to Cigarette Smoking

Abstract: Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of morbidity and prema­ture mortality in the United States; however, approximately 48 million persons aged greater than or equal to 18 years are smokers (1) ), and approximately 24 billion packages of cigarettes are purchased annually (2). Each year, approximately 400,000 deaths in the United States are attributed to cigarette smoking (3) and costs associated with morbidity attributable to smoking are substantial (4). To provide estimates for 1993 of smoking-attributable costs for selected categories of direct medical-care expenditures (i.e., prescription drugs, hospitaliza­tions, physician care, home-health care, and nursing-home care), the University of California and CDC analyzed data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditures Survey (NMES-2) and from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). This report summarizes the results of the analysis.