The role of economic analysis in policy making — a tobacco control case study

Abstract

Economic analyses and modelling can influence the development of public health policy by providing evidence about the economic impact of different policies and the return on investment for policy changes, as well as any differential outcomes arising from policy implementation. Such analyses can also provide data relevant to broader factors that impact on policy decisions. This article describes the use of an economic analysis of a reduction in smoking prevalence to counter competing claims of industry interest groups, and to identify the potential beneficiaries of tighter tobacco control policies.