Can deteriorating air quality act as an unintended deterrent to cigarette consumption?

Abstract

This study examines the effect of air pollution on cigarette consumption, addressing the challenge of endogeneity using wind speed and direction as instrumental variables for air pollution levels. Using an instrumental variable approach, the analysis reveals that increased air pollution reduces cigarette consumption, likely due to heightened health awareness and respiratory discomfort. These findings highlight an unintended behavioral response to environmental stressors, offering new insights into the intersection of environmental and health behaviors and informing public health strategies aimed at reducing smoking prevalence.