Smoking persistence across countries: a panel data analysis

Christelis, D. and Sanz-de-Galdeano, A. (2011) Smoking persistence across countries: a panel data analysis. Journal of Health Economics, 30(5), pp. 1077-1093. (doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.06.005) (PMID:21802158)

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Abstract

We provide new cross-country evidence on smoking persistence in Europe, which can be due to both true state dependence and individual unobserved heterogeneity. We distinguish between the two by using semi-parametric nonlinear panel data methods, applied to both the smoking participation and the cigarette consumption decision, which we allow to be correlated. We find that for both smoking decisions true state dependence is generally much smaller, but still important, when unobserved individual heterogeneity is accounted for, regardless of residential location. We uncover large differences in true state dependence across countries and relate them to discrepancies in regulations, social norms on and tolerance towards smoking, and awareness of its health risks.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Anna Sanz-de-Galdeano acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology grant SEJ2007-62500 and the Government of Catalonia (contract no. 2009SGR189, the XREPP and the Barcelona GSE Research Network).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Christelis, Professor Dimitris
Authors: Christelis, D., and Sanz-de-Galdeano, A.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Journal of Health Economics
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0167-6296
ISSN (Online):1879-1646
Published Online:21 June 2011

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