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An Assessment Of Causal Inference In Smoking Initiation Research And A Framework For Future Research

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  • JAMES J. HECKMAN
  • FREDRICK FLYER
  • COLLEEN LOUGHLIN

Abstract

Reliably identifying the causal factors underlying youth smoking initiation is an important part of developing effective smoking prevention programs and shaping other types of smoking‐related policies. The establishment of reliable scientific evidence in support of a causal link between cigarette advertising and youth smoking initiation depends on both rich longitudinal data as well as careful empirical applications. We examine basic principles of empirical scientific investigation of potential causal relationships, discuss findings of recent research on causal factors of youth smoking, and evaluate evidence from the public health literature regarding the effects of cigarette advertising on youth smoking. (JEL I18, C5)

Suggested Citation

  • James J. Heckman & Fredrick Flyer & Colleen Loughlin, 2008. "An Assessment Of Causal Inference In Smoking Initiation Research And A Framework For Future Research," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 46(1), pages 37-44, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:46:y:2008:i:1:p:37-44
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2007.00078.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Donald Kenkel & Alan Mathios & Hua Wang, 2018. "Advertising and Health: A Case Study of Menthol Cigarette Advertising and Cigarette Demand," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(3), pages 263-286, Summer.
    2. L. Pieroni & L. Salmasi, 2015. "Does Cigarette Smoking Affect Body Weight? Causal Estimates from the Clean Indoor Air Law Discontinuity," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 82(328), pages 671-704, October.
    3. Aliaksandr Amialchuk & Onur Sapci, 2022. "The long‐term health effects of initiating smoking in adolescence: Evidence from a national longitudinal survey," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 597-613, April.
    4. Jon P. Nelson, 2010. "What is Learned from Longitudinal Studies of Advertising and Youth Drinking and Smoking? A Critical Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-57, March.
    5. Chih‐Sheng Hsieh & Hans van Kippersluis, 2018. "Smoking initiation: Peers and personality," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 9(2), pages 825-863, July.
    6. Heckman, James J. & Raut, Lakshmi K., 2016. "Intergenerational long-term effects of preschool-structural estimates from a discrete dynamic programming model," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 191(1), pages 164-175.
    7. Deliana Kostova & Evan Blecher, 2013. "Does Advertising Matter? Estimating The Impact Of Cigarette Advertising On Smoking Among Youth In Developing Countries," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 31(3), pages 537-548, July.
    8. Victor Hugo De Oliveira Silva & José Raimundo Carvalho & José Maria Da Cunha Júnior, 2016. "Economic Fluctuations During Pregnancy And Smoking Onset Among Adolescents In Brazil: Evidence From The Pesquisa Nacional De Saúde Do Escolar (Pense)," Anais do XLIII Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 43rd Brazilian Economics Meeting] 204, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    9. Eamon Molloy, 2016. "This Ad is for You: Targeting and the Effect of Alcohol Advertising on Youth Drinking," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(2), pages 148-164, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling

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