Price-Responsiveness of Cigarette Smoking Behaviors Across Income Groups in the United States

This study adds to the rich but inconclusive literature that compares the price-responsiveness of smoking behaviors across US income groups. Our results indicate that the lower-income (<200% FPL) groups were significantly more price-responsive than the high-income group in quitting cigarette smoking but smokers in the lower-income groups were not price-responsive in reducing smoking intensity. Policymakers might consider earmarking cigarette taxation revenues for cessation assistance to help smokers in the lower-income groups who could not quit smoking.