Regression Discontinuity Evidence on the Effectiveness of the Minimum Legal E-Cigarette Purchasing Age

Authors

Jeff Desimone, University of IowaFollow
Daniel Grossman, West Virginia UniversityFollow
Nicolas Ziebarth, Cornell UniversityFollow

Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

1-1-2022

College/Unit

Chambers College of Business and Economics

Document Number

22-01

Department/Program/Center

Economics

Abstract

Increases in youth vaping rates and concerns of a new generation of nicotine addicts recently prompted an increase in the federal minimum legal purchase age (MLPA) for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21 years. This study presents the first regression discontinuity evidence on the effectiveness of e-cigarette MLPA laws. Using data on 12^th graders from Monitoring the Future, we obtain robust evidence that federal and state age-18 MLPAs decreased underage e-cigarette use by 15–20% and frequent use by 20–40%. These findings suggest that the age-21 federal MLPA could meaningfully reduce e-cigarette use among 18–20-year-olds.

Digital Commons Citation

Desimone, Jeff; Grossman, Daniel; and Ziebarth, Nicolas, "Regression Discontinuity Evidence on the Effectiveness of the Minimum Legal E-Cigarette Purchasing Age" (2022). Economics Faculty Working Papers Series. 60.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/econ_working-papers/60