DCP3 Series Editor Dr. Prabhat Jha joined Center for Global Development expert Bill Savedoff for a disccusion on death, poverty, and tobacco taxes on Monday, September 8.
Monday, September 8, 2014
10:00 am - 11:30 am EST
Center for Global Development
2055 L Street NW - Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20036
"Tobacco use is one of the greatest public health challenges facing low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). On average, about half of young men and 10% of young women globally become smokers and relatively few stop over the course of their lives. As a result, annual tobacco deaths will rise from about 5 million in 2010 to more than 10 million each year over the next few decades, as the young smokers of today reach middle and old age. Tripling tobacco excise taxes would, in many LMIC, approximately double the average price of cigarettes (and more than double prices of cheaper brands), decrease consumption by about a third and increase tobacco revenues by about a third. Smart strategies that favor excise taxation are urgently needed. Dr. Jha will discuss the latest evidence on the impact of higher taxes on the poor, efforts to counter smuggling and consequences of higher taxes."