Analysis on the Smoking Decision Making Mechanism Based on Cost Benefits / 中国卫生经济

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the decision mechanism and factors of the non-addicted smokers,and provide valuable suggestions for smoking control policy.Methods:Using the theory of consumer behavior and behavioral economics theory to analyze the cost and income involved in the smoking decision of the non-addicted smokers,and its classification,so as to clarify the role of various factors play in smoking decision and its mechanism.Results:In the period of non-addiction,people's smoking behavior was more from the pursuit of a certain income,including functional benefits,psychological benefits and contextual benefits.On one hand,smokers had the pursuit of specific benefits,on the other hand,the cost of smoking during this period was not high,the cost of health damage was very small,or even negligible.Therefore,the choice of smoking largely depended on the comparison of the size of the income and the cost of the transaction.Conclusion:The effect of various cost and income were different in different stages of the smoking decision,while the mechanism was also different.Increase transaction cost might lead to non-addicted smokers to give up smoking,but it might be invalid for addicts.Smoking control policy should be formulated based on smokers in different stages so as to be more targeted.