Gender, Women, and the Tobacco Epidemic: Taxation and the Economics of Tobacco Control

The first section of this chapter discusses the costs of tobacco consumption. This topic is relevant to millions of women, particularly in developing countries, because tobacco use exacerbates poverty conditions and negatively affects women’s roles as family providers. The costs of treating tobacco- related illnesses and the resulting loss of productivity are leading economic arguments for tobacco control policies. This is especially true for the costs related to illnesses caused by exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS)—costs that are borne by both those exposed to SHS and society in general.

The second section covers various issues concerning taxation and price. Although taxation is a "blunt" instrument that may not have a gender-specific goal, it influences women's consumer behavior and is an important source of revenue for governments and public health programs.