Where There's Smoking, There's Fire: the Effects of Smoking Policies on the Incidence of Fires in the United States
39 Pages Posted: 18 Dec 2010 Last revised: 5 Jun 2023
Date Written: December 2010
Abstract
Fires and burns are among the leading causes of unintentional death in the U.S. Most of these deaths occur in residences, and cigarettes are a primary cause. In this paper, I explore the relationship between smoking, cigarette policies, and fires. As fewer people smoke, there are less opportunities for fires, however, the magnitude of any reduction is in question as the people who quit may not necessarily start fires. Using a state-level panel, I find that reductions in smoking and increases in cigarette prices are associated with fewer fires. However, laws regulating indoor smoking are associated with increases in fires.
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