Hana Ross1, Michal Stoklosa, Konstantin Krasovsky. 1. International Tobacco Control Research, American Cancer Society, 250 Williams Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA. hana.ross@cancer.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the dynamic 2007-2010 tobacco tax policy in Ukraine on cigarette prices, cigarette consumption, tobacco tax revenue and the tobacco industry's price strategy. METHODS: Using data on cigarette sales, cigarette prices, income and tobacco control policies, price elasticities of cigarette demand in Ukraine were estimated using two methods. Annual data were used to generate point price elasticity estimates, while monthly data were used in a two-step Engle-Granger procedure. RESULTS: The point price elasticity estimate is data sensitive and ranges from -0.11 to -0.62, centring around -0.32. The regression model estimates a long-run price elasticity of -0.28. Cigarette consumption fell by 13% in 2009 and 15% in 2010 while the tax revenue increased by US$700 million and by US$500 million in 2009 and 2010, respectively, compared to the previous year. Tax increases have changed the tobacco industry's price strategy from one of shielding consumers from the impact of smaller tax hikes in 2007-2008, to one of increasing industry net-of-tax prices, after recent, larger tax increases. CONCLUSIONS: The higher real tobacco excise taxes of 2009 and 2010 have significantly reduced tobacco consumption in Ukraine, resulting in encouraging public health and fiscal gains. It will be important for cigarette prices/taxes to keep pace with inflation and income growth for this impact to be sustained.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the dynamic 2007-2010 tobacco tax policy in Ukraine on cigarette prices, cigarette consumption, tobacco tax revenue and the tobacco industry's price strategy. METHODS: Using data on cigarette sales, cigarette prices, income and tobacco control policies, price elasticities of cigarette demand in Ukraine were estimated using two methods. Annual data were used to generate point price elasticity estimates, while monthly data were used in a two-step Engle-Granger procedure. RESULTS: The point price elasticity estimate is data sensitive and ranges from -0.11 to -0.62, centring around -0.32. The regression model estimates a long-run price elasticity of -0.28. Cigarette consumption fell by 13% in 2009 and 15% in 2010 while the tax revenue increased by US$700 million and by US$500 million in 2009 and 2010, respectively, compared to the previous year. Tax increases have changed the tobacco industry's price strategy from one of shielding consumers from the impact of smaller tax hikes in 2007-2008, to one of increasing industry net-of-tax prices, after recent, larger tax increases. CONCLUSIONS: The higher real tobacco excise taxes of 2009 and 2010 have significantly reduced tobacco consumption in Ukraine, resulting in encouraging public health and fiscal gains. It will be important for cigarette prices/taxes to keep pace with inflation and income growth for this impact to be sustained.
Authors: Bayard Roberts; Anna Gilmore; Andrew Stickley; David Rotman; Vladimir Prohoda; Christian Haerpfer; Martin McKee Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-05-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Bayard Roberts; Andrew Stickley; Anna B Gilmore; Kirill Danishevski; Kseniya Kizilova; Anna Bryden; David Rotman; Christian Haerpfer; Martin McKee Journal: Tob Control Date: 2012-06-15 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Risako Shirane; Katherine Smith; Hana Ross; Karin E Silver; Simon Williams; Anna Gilmore Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2012-06-26 Impact factor: 11.069