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Do smoke-free car laws work? Evidence from a quasi-experiment

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  • Nguyen, Hai V.

Abstract

In response to increased risks of second-hand smoke exposure for children travelling in cars and its resulting deleterious health impacts, several jurisdictions passed legislation that bans smoking in private vehicles when children are present. In this study, I exploit a unique quasi-experiment from Canada and employ the difference-in-differences and triple-differences techniques to empirically evaluate this legislation. I find that the legislation reduces exposure to second-hand smoke inside cars for children. Further, there appears no marked increase in smoking at home after the implementation of the legislation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nguyen, Hai V., 2013. "Do smoke-free car laws work? Evidence from a quasi-experiment," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 138-148.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:32:y:2013:i:1:p:138-148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2012.10.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher Carpenter & Hai V. Nguyen, 2020. "Intended and Unintended Effects of Banning Menthol Cigarettes," NBER Working Papers 26811, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Martin Mlinarić & Sabrina Kastaun & Daniel Kotz, 2022. "Exposure to Tobacco Smoking in Vehicles, Indoor, and Outdoor Settings in Germany: Prevalence and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Ritzel, Christian & Hoop, Daniel & Portmann, Marco & Wallner, Astrid & Mack, Gabriele, 2023. "Swiss Parks of National Importance as model regions of sustainable development – An economic success story for farmers?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    4. Leah K. Lakdawala & David Simon, 2016. "The Intergenerational Consequences of Tobacco Policy," Working papers 2016-27, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    5. Bharadwaj, Prashant & Johnsen, Julian V. & Løken, Katrine V., 2014. "Smoking bans, maternal smoking and birth outcomes," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 72-93.
    6. Shen, Yichen & Noguchi, Haruko, 2021. "Impacts of anticancer drug parity laws on mortality rates," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Smoking bans; Private vehicles; Second-hand smoke exposure; Compensatory behaviour; Children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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