Working Paper: NBER ID: w9245
Authors: Greg Colman; Michael Grossman; Ted Joyce
Abstract: Recent analyses suggest that cigarette excise taxes lower prenatal smoking. It is unclear, however, whether the association between taxes and prenatal smoking represents a decline among women of reproductive age or a particular response by pregnant women. We address this question directly with an analysis of quit and relapse behavior during and after pregnancy. We find that the price elasticity of prenatal quitting and postpartum relapse is close to one in absolute value. We conclude that direct financial incentives to stop smoking during and after pregnancy should be considered.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: I18; H23
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cigarette excise taxes (H29) | Quit rates during pregnancy (J26) |
| Cigarette excise taxes (H29) | Postpartum relapse rates (J13) |
| Smoking participation rates (J49) | Quit probabilities (C25) |
| Health costs associated with smoking during pregnancy (I12) | Quit rates (J63) |