Cigarette demand in south africa over 1996-2006: The role of price, income and health awareness
Date
2008
Authors
Boshoff W.H.
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Abstract
The study seeks to re-investigate the role of price, income and health awareness in the evolution of South African cigarette demand over the period 1996 to 2006. At first glance, rising cigarette prices appear to have played an important role in reducing cigarette consumption over the sample period, especially during the late 90s. But how dependent is the impact of price increases on general economic conditions and overall health awareness among smokers? Health awareness, in particular, has not received sufficient attention in the South African context, due to a lack of data. Previous estimates of price and income elasticities of cigarette demand are based on long annual time series data, which do not allow for changes in underlying tastes and preferences. The paper attempts to disentangle the forces of price, income, health awareness and policy intervention using a quarterly data set. In addition, the study also cautions against the upward bias in estimates derived from formal cigarette sales data - in the light of increasing illicit cigarette volumes in South Africa. © 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 The Economic Society of South Africa.
Description
Keywords
consumption behavior, data set, demand analysis, economic conditions, health education, income distribution, price determination, time series analysis, Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Nicotiana tabacum
Citation
South African Journal of Economics
76
1
76
1