Higher cigarette prices would help millions avoid poor health and extreme poverty

Raising the price of cigarettes benefits lower income people. In this study, researchers examined the impact of a 50 per cent increase in the cost of cigarettes on health, poverty, and financial protection in 13 middle-income countries. They found that higher tobacco prices provide more health and financial gains to the poorest 20 per cent than to the richest 20 per cent of the population.

Original paper and editorial published April 11, 2018

Corresponding author: Prabhat Jha, University of Toronto – Prabhat.jha@utoronto.ca