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Cigarette Smokers As Job Risk Takers, Joni Hersch, W. Kip Viscusi
Cigarette Smokers As Job Risk Takers, Joni Hersch, W. Kip Viscusi
Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications
Using a large data set, the authors find that smokers select riskier jobs, but receive lower total wage compensation for risk than do nonsmokers. This finding is inconsistent with conventional models of compensating differentials. The authors develop a model in which worker risk preferences and job safety performance lead to smokers facing a flatter market offer curve than nonsmokers. The empirical results support the theoretical model. Smokers are injured more often controlling for their job's objective risk and are paid less for these risks of injury. Smokers and nonsmokers, in effect, are segmented labor market groups with different preferences and …
The Governmental Composition Of The Insurance Costs Of Smoking, W. Kip Viscusi
The Governmental Composition Of The Insurance Costs Of Smoking, W. Kip Viscusi
Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications
The estimated health risks from smoking have significant external financial consequences for society. Studies at the national level indicate that cigarettes are selffinancing since external costs such as those due to illnesses are offset by cost savings associated with premature death, chiefly pension costs. This paper extends this analysis to all 50 states and considers the costs considered in the state attorneys general suits against the cigarette industry. Cigarettes are always self-financing from the standpoint of costs to each state. The extent of the cost savings is less than at the federal level. However, smokers' higher medical costs are outweighed …
Teen Smoking Behavior And The Regulatory Environment, Joni Hersch
Teen Smoking Behavior And The Regulatory Environment, Joni Hersch
Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications
Professor Hersch argues that most state regulations aimed at fighting teen smoking have had little or no effect. She provides evidence that despite widespread age restrictions on purchasing tobacco, most teens do not consider it difficult for minors to purchase tobacco products within their community. She also presents evidence demonstrating a strong correlation between smoking rates and perceptions about the addictive nature of smoking. These findings suggest that facilitating greater awareness of the addictive power of cigarettes could be effective in curbing teen smoking. She explores the potential for parental restrictions on limiting teen smoking, but provides indications that parents …
From Cash Crop To Cash Cow, W. Kip Viscusi
From Cash Crop To Cash Cow, W. Kip Viscusi
Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications
The 1990s have witnessed a blizzard of antismoking efforts. Hillary Clinton and a variety of supporters of the Clinton health care plan urged dramatically higher cigarette taxes to pay for expanded health insurance efforts. And many state and local governments have imposed smoking restrictions or have undertaken antismoking ad campaigns. Those antismoking efforts recently culminated with a pro posed $368.5 billion settlement to address many liability and regulatory issues. The focal point of the bargain was the settlement of a series of lawsuits filed by the states against cigarette companies to recoup smoking-related Medicaid costs. Several state attorney generals composed …
Age Variations In Risk Perceptions And Smoking Decisions, W. Kip Viscusi
Age Variations In Risk Perceptions And Smoking Decisions, W. Kip Viscusi
Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications
The results of a national survey of smoking risks and smoking behavior are analyzed. Smoking risk perceptions follow the expected patterns given age differences in risk information acquired and differences in information associated with smoking status. Risk perceptions are greater as one moves to younger age cohorts, where overall lung cancer risks are substantially overestimated. These risk perceptions in turn have a negative effect on smoking decisions, where younger individuals behave no differently in terms of the manner in which they incorporate risk perceptions into their smoking decisions.