To 'Vape' or Smoke? A Discrete Choice Experiment Among Adult Smokers

33 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2017

See all articles by Joachim Marti

Joachim Marti

Yale School of Public Health; University of Neuchatel

John Buckell

Yale University - School of Public Health

Johanna Catherine Maclean

University of Pennsylvania

Jody L. Sindelar

Yale University - School of Public Health

Date Written: January 2017

Abstract

A growing share of the United States population uses e-cigarettes. In response, policymakers are considering regulating e-cigarettes, or have already done so, due to concerns regarding e-cigarettes' public health impact. However, there is currently little population-based evidence to inform these regulatory choices. More information is needed on how policy-relevant factors will likely drive smokers' decision to use e-cigarettes. To provide this information we conduct an online survey and discrete choice experiment to investigate how adult tobacco cigarette smokers' demand for cigarette type varies by four policy-relevant attributes:1) whether e-cigarettes are considered healthier than tobacco cigarettes, 2) the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a cessation device, 3) bans on use in public places such as bars and restaurants, and 4) price. Overall, we find that the demand for e-cigarettes is motivated more by smokers' health concerns than by the desire to avoid smoking bans or higher prices. However, results from latent class models reveal three distinct groups of smokers, those who prefer: tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and using both products. Each group responds differently to the cigarette attributes suggesting that policies will have different impacts across the groups.

Keywords: e-cigarettes, smoking, discrete choice experiments, preference heterogeneity, regulation

JEL Classification: C35, I12, I18

Suggested Citation

Marti, Joachim and Buckell, John and Maclean, Johanna Catherine and Sindelar, Jody L., To 'Vape' or Smoke? A Discrete Choice Experiment Among Adult Smokers (January 2017). IZA Discussion Paper No. 10490, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2903112 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2903112

Joachim Marti (Contact Author)

Yale School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.joachim-marti.com

University of Neuchatel ( email )

1, A.-L. Breguet
Neuchatel, CH-2000
Switzerland

John Buckell

Yale University - School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States

Johanna Catherine Maclean

University of Pennsylvania ( email )

Jody L. Sindelar

Yale University - School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
203-785-5287 (Phone)
203-785-6287 (Fax)

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