New Toolkits

We launched 2 toolkits to guide researchers in the production of high-quality research on the economics of tobacco and tobacco control, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

• A Toolkit for Estimating the Distributional Impact of Tobacco Taxes

• Updated Toolkit on Using Household Expenditure Surveys for Research in the Economics of Tobacco Control

New Findings from Local Partners

This year, our think tank partners published over 40 reports, working papers, policy briefs, and more on the economics of tobacco & tobacco control. They:

• estimated the public health & tax revenue impact of cigarette taxation;
• assessed how tobacco use & t0bacco control effects youth, the poor, & other groups; and
• analyzed the tobacco market, including illicit trade & industry strategies.

Learn more about the research in a year-end blog.

Collaboration on RESET Alcohol

As a part of the RESET initiative, we worked in 7 countries across Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. We closely examined both the alcohol-related policies in these countries and existing research on the topic with local think tank partners. Together, we used these inputs to release evidence matrices in Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, and generate simulation models of potential alcohol excise tax reforms.

In 2024, we will begin filling other important research gaps we identified with our partners.

Connecting with Policy Makers

A crucial part of our mission is informing more effective tobacco and alcohol taxation policies. To do so, our partners have actively reached out to and connected with stakeholders in their respective countries. They shared their research at round tables, public hearings, formal & informal meetings, panels, conferences, and more. Some highlights include:

• In Brazil, UCB is continuing to provide support to Congress and other key stakeholders in the ongoing tax reform discussions by modeling the impact of various tobacco & alcohol tax scenarios.

• In Montenegro, ISEA, a trusted resource for the Ministry of Finance, helped to inform a tobacco tax increase and continues to foster a strong relationship with decision makers.

• In Pakistan, a body of research from SPDC and PIDE demonstrating the harm of tobacco & benefits of tobacco control helped to motivate policy makers to raise excise taxes.

We are grateful for our partners' commitment to effective and creative dissemination strategies that reach policy makers and lead to positive change!