Publication: Economics of Tobacco Toolkit, Tool 7 : Understand, Measure, and Combat Tobacco Smuggling
Date
2013
ISSN
Published
2013
Author(s)
Merriman, David
Abstract
The intended purpose of this tool is to
let readers gain the necessary knowledge about tobacco
smuggling. With this knowledge, policy responses can be
developed and further monitored in order to establish their
effectiveness, appropriateness, and impact on other policy
goals. For example, if enhanced tax revenue is one goal of a
tobacco taxation policy, smuggling can be an important
consideration, since smuggled tobacco avoids taxation.
Likewise, tobacco smuggling can have an impact on health
policies, as it can be difficult to regulate health warnings
and conditions of sale on smuggled tobacco. More
specifically, by using the methods presented in this tool, a
more accurate and objective understanding of tobacco
smuggling can be gained. Tobacco manufacturers, distributors
and sellers, and others with a narrow self-interest in the
design of tobacco control policy often misrepresent the
degree of tobacco smuggling. Well documented,
methodologically sound, quantitative estimates of tobacco
smuggling are a useful tool for educating policymakers about
the costs and benefits of various policies. Moreover,
unbiased estimates of smuggling, and the change in smuggling
over time, are essential tools to evaluate the success of
many tobacco control policies.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Merriman, David. 2013. Economics of Tobacco Toolkit, Tool 7 : Understand, Measure, and Combat Tobacco Smuggling. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16267 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”