Does Early Life Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Permanently Harm Childhood Welfare? Evidence from Cigarette Tax Hikes

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Simon, David
• 署名单位: University of Connecticut
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20150476
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 128-159
• 关键词: low-birth-weight; maternal smoking; UNITED-STATES; health-insurance; youth smoking; in-utero; pregnancy; outcomes; asthma; IMPACT

摘要

Evidence suggests that excise taxes on tobacco improve fetal health. However, it remains unknown if smoke exposure in early life causes lasting harm to children. I find that in utero exposure to a dollar increase in the state cigarette tax causes a 10 percent decrease in sick days from school and a 4.7 percent decrease in having two or more doctor visits. I present additional evidence for decreases in hospitalizations and asthma. This supports the hypothesis that exposure to cigarette smoke in utero and infancy carries significant medium-term costs, and that excise taxes can lead to lasting inter-generational improvements in well-being.