The price elasticity of demand for cigarettes in the UK, 2001-2011

Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing the retail price of tobacco products is recognised as highly effective in reducing demand for tobacco and has been a key component of government policies aimed at reducing smoking prevalence for several decades in the UK. In order for policymakers to know how effective increasing tobacco prices might be, it is important to have as accurate and reliable an estimate as possible of the extent to which demand for tobacco is affected by price increases.Methods