Excise Tax Policy and Cigarette Use in High-Burden Asian Countries

Focusing on the People’s Republic of China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, where smoking rates are above average, the brief highlights the disproportionate burden of smoking costs on low- and middle-income economies. It assesses taxation policies, reforms, and interventions implemented in each country and demonstrates how increased taxes could potentially reduce smoking by 10%, decrease premature deaths, and contribute to economic growth.