Working Paper: NBER ID: w29443
Authors: Christopher S. Carpenter; Brandyn F. Churchill; Michelle M. Marcus
Abstract: Indoor tanning beds (ITBs) emit UV light at high intensity and have been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization since 2009. We are the first to study the role of state laws prohibiting youths from indoor tanning using a difference-in-differences research design. We find that youth ITB prohibitions reduced population search intensity for tanning-related information. Among white teen girls, ITB prohibitions reduced self-reported indoor tanning and increased sun protective behaviors. We also find that youth ITB prohibitions significantly reduced the size of the indoor tanning market by increasing tanning salon closures and reducing tanning salon sales.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: I1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Indoor tanning behaviors among white high school girls (I19) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Google searches for tanning-related terms (I10) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Self-reported indoor tanning participation and intensity (Y10) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Indoor tanning market outcomes (D49) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Google searches for sun-protective terms (G52) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Regular sunscreen use among white high school girls (I19) |
| Youth indoor tanning bed (ITB) prohibitions (L96) | Other risky behaviors (drinking, smoking, sexual behaviors, weight perceptions, suicidality) (I12) |