A toolkit on household expenditure surveys for research in the economics of tobacco control using Stata

Tobacco use remains one of the main risk factors for developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), causing premature death, disability, and economic costs, which jeopardizes economic development. This toolkit aims to guide researchers interested in investigating the economics of tobacco control, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Mexico. It presents theoretical background on the economics of tobacco and provides step-by-step tools developed in Stata to estimate own- and cross-price elasticities of tobacco products and the crowding-out and impoverishing effects using household expenditure surveys (HES). It deals with standard issues with HES and provides tips for data management and analysis in Stata. These assessments are basic inputs for designing better fiscal policies, which are the most effective measures to reduce tobacco use. The tools included could also be applied to other harmful products such as alcoholic or sugar-sweetened beverages, which are also major risk factors for NCDs. Case studies from low- and middle-income countries implementing ad hoc and replicable Stata do-files are also provided in the toolkit. The policy discussions and rationale of different economic concepts in tobacco control and interpretation of results could also benefit policy makers, analysts in government, and civil society organizations engaged in tobacco control activities.