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Adoption and compliance in second-hand smoking bans: a global econometric analysis

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International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

We examine the determinants governing both countries’ enactment of smoking bans in public places and their ability to successfully put these bans into effect.

Methods

Using a large sample (N = 99–184) of low-, middle- and high-income countries, econometric techniques are used to estimate the influence of several variables on cross-national variations in the adoption and compliance of second-hand smoke laws (2010).

Results

We find similarities in the determinants of adoption and compliance. Yet more notable are the differences, with several political economy factors which have a statistically significant influence on countries’ level of compliance with existing smoke-free laws in public places found not to consistently influence their propensity to adopt bans in the first place. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are that governments are motivated to adopt smoking bans for reasons other than protecting the health of their citizens and that the real costs of smoking bans are predominantly borne at the compliance stage.

Conclusions

More effort needs to be made to ensure that governments realize their existing policy commitments through effective enforcement of bans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK

    Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer

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  1. Richard Perkins
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  2. Eric Neumayer
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Correspondence to Richard Perkins.

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Perkins, R., Neumayer, E. Adoption and compliance in second-hand smoking bans: a global econometric analysis. Int J Public Health 59, 859–866 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0585-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0585-3

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