NAQC Newsroom: Research

The Relationship Between Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes: Evidence From Household Panel Data.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018  
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Cotti C, Nesson E, Tefft N.
The Relationship Between Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes: Evidence From Household Panel Data.
J Health Econ. 2018 Aug 20;61:205-219. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.08.001. [Epub ahead of print]

We use the Nielsen Consumer Panel to investigate the impact of tobacco control policies on purchases of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigarettes, and smoking cessation products. We measure product quantity, product type, nicotine content, and liquid volume of e-cigarettes, and product quantity and nicotine content of cigarettes. Higher cigarette excise taxes decrease both cigarette and e-cigarette purchases, suggesting that cigarettes and e-cigarettes are complements, and higher cigarette excise taxes reduce the aggregate amount of nicotine purchased from cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Cigarette smoke-free air laws decrease cigarette purchases, while e-cigarette smoke-free air laws do not affect cigarette or e-cigarette purchases.