Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data

Abstract This study examines the demand for legally sold cigarettes in Uruguay from January 1997 to June 2022. Time series analysis reveals that cigarette demand is consistently inelastic, with a price elasticity of – 0.77 and an income elasticity of 0.34. Tobacco control policies—such as 100% smoke...

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Main Authors: Zuleika Ferre, Mariana Gerstenblüth, Patricia Triunfo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-03-01
Series:Discover Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00495-9
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author Zuleika Ferre
Mariana Gerstenblüth
Patricia Triunfo
author_facet Zuleika Ferre
Mariana Gerstenblüth
Patricia Triunfo
author_sort Zuleika Ferre
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examines the demand for legally sold cigarettes in Uruguay from January 1997 to June 2022. Time series analysis reveals that cigarette demand is consistently inelastic, with a price elasticity of – 0.77 and an income elasticity of 0.34. Tobacco control policies—such as 100% smoke-free spaces (since March 2006), single presentation (since February 2009), a comprehensive advertising ban (since November 2014), and neutral packaging (since January 2020)—have significantly reduced cigarette demand. While isolating the impact of each policy is challenging, their collective effectiveness in curbing cigarette consumption is evident. In line with the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we simulated progressive tax increases from 2024 to 2028. The analysis suggests that a 60% real-term increase in the specific cigarette tax (IMESI) would reduce the smoking population by 8.82%, resulting in 49,000 fewer smokers during the period, and an 18.65% decrease in legal cigarette consumption. Despite an 4.46% decline in real tax revenue between 2022 and 2023, our projections indicate that these tax adjustments could increase tax revenue by 24.35%.
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spelling doaj-art-3c39b2aa6db54e25a98c8896a04118042025-08-20T03:02:21ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-03-0122111210.1186/s12982-025-00495-9Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly dataZuleika Ferre0Mariana Gerstenblüth1Patricia Triunfo2Department of Economics, Social Sciences Faculty, Universidad de la RepúblicaDepartment of Economics, Social Sciences Faculty, Universidad de la RepúblicaDepartment of Economics, Social Sciences Faculty, Universidad de la RepúblicaAbstract This study examines the demand for legally sold cigarettes in Uruguay from January 1997 to June 2022. Time series analysis reveals that cigarette demand is consistently inelastic, with a price elasticity of – 0.77 and an income elasticity of 0.34. Tobacco control policies—such as 100% smoke-free spaces (since March 2006), single presentation (since February 2009), a comprehensive advertising ban (since November 2014), and neutral packaging (since January 2020)—have significantly reduced cigarette demand. While isolating the impact of each policy is challenging, their collective effectiveness in curbing cigarette consumption is evident. In line with the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we simulated progressive tax increases from 2024 to 2028. The analysis suggests that a 60% real-term increase in the specific cigarette tax (IMESI) would reduce the smoking population by 8.82%, resulting in 49,000 fewer smokers during the period, and an 18.65% decrease in legal cigarette consumption. Despite an 4.46% decline in real tax revenue between 2022 and 2023, our projections indicate that these tax adjustments could increase tax revenue by 24.35%.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00495-9Times seriesCigaretteTobaccoDemand elasticityIncome elasticitySimulation
spellingShingle Zuleika Ferre
Mariana Gerstenblüth
Patricia Triunfo
Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
Discover Public Health
Times series
Cigarette
Tobacco
Demand elasticity
Income elasticity
Simulation
title Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
title_full Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
title_fullStr Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
title_full_unstemmed Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
title_short Demand for cigarettes in Uruguay: a national analysis with monthly data
title_sort demand for cigarettes in uruguay a national analysis with monthly data
topic Times series
Cigarette
Tobacco
Demand elasticity
Income elasticity
Simulation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00495-9
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AT patriciatriunfo demandforcigarettesinuruguayanationalanalysiswithmonthlydata