Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
970990 | The Journal of Socio-Economics | 2009 | 13 Pages |
Abstract
In this study I exploit the findings of a population survey in which I had the opportunity to introduce questions on time preferences. The study uses retrospective data to estimate the relationship between present-biased preferences and the decisions to start and quit smoking. Respondents stating present-biased preferences are not more prone to start smoking but quit later in life, and after more failed attempts. These preliminary results strongly suggest that smokers form a heterogeneous population and it can be argued that such heterogeneity means that taxes on cigarettes are a blunt and inefficient instrument of public health.
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Social Sciences and Humanities
Economics, Econometrics and Finance
Economics and Econometrics
Authors
Michel Grignon,