J Robert Branston
Biographic Data
| ID | 3529326 |
|---|---|
| NAME | J Robert Branston |
| GIVEN NAMES | J Robert |
| FAMILY NAME | Branston |
| SIGNATURE | BRANSTON J R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Bath |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2332-2403 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 28 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 28 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2000 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Reducing tobacco supplier profits and pricing power: Modelling the impact of a tobacco price cap and tax increase on socioeconomic inequalities in England
BACKGROUND: The tobacco industry generates substantial profits from products causing significant health and societal costs. These profits enable the industry to use pricing as a flexible marketing tool. Consequently, calls exist for a scheme to cap wholesale tobacco prices and offset this with higher taxation, reducing price variation and potentially raising revenue. This study models the health and economic impact of such a scheme in England. ME…
The case against duty-free tobacco sales: An analysis from Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Duty-free sales of tobacco products represent a government-sanctioned price discount that has undermined Aotearoa's Smokefree 2025 goal and its obligations as a Party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Effect of eliminating the sale of duty-free tobacco products: A natural experiment during the Covid-19 pandemic in Taiwan, 2020–2023
Duty-free tobacco sales associated with international travel should be abolished for the benefit of both public health and government tax revenue
Examining cigarette, heated tobacco and e-cigarette market pricing and tax pass-through in Ukraine during the 2019–2022 tax reforms
The study shows that the industry has used tax increases on HTPs and e-cigs as an opportunity to raise prices but with lower net revenue per stick. The findings suggest that fully harmonising HTP taxes with those on traditional cigarettes could limit the industry's pricing strategies and hence help reduce consumption and generate additional government revenue
An assessment of proposals for reforming the European union's tobacco tax directive
The European Union (EU) Beating Cancer Plan aims to reduce smoking prevalence to about 20 % by 2025 and to <5 % by 2040. As of 2023 prevalence was 24 %, indicating significant efforts are needed if the goals are to be reached. Excise taxes are one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to control tobacco and nicotine use. The EU governs tobacco excise tax policy across member states (MS) by the Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD), formally Counci…
How has the tobacco industry passed tax changes through to consumers in 12 sub-Saharan African countries
This paper provides an overview of TI pricing strategies in response to tax increases in SSA. Governments must monitor how the TI responds to tax changes to ensure that tax increases are effective in impacting price
Corporate communication of the relative health risks of Iqos through a webchat service
A variety of claims and information on the relative safety of IQOS were used in webchat communications. Response variation highlights that clearer regulation is needed to appropriately control corporate communications via live webchat services
Tobacco industry pricing strategies for single cigarettes and multistick packs after excise tax increases in Colombia
The pricing strategies identified suggest excise taxes can be increased further, particularly the specific component, to reduce the price gap between brand segments. Brands should be restricted to a single variant along with prohibitions on launching new brands/brand variants. Lastly, since the pricing of single sticks does not match the pattern of packs, more monitoring of their sales and distribution is required, especially since they promote c…
Going ‘Super Value’ in New Zealand: Cigarette pricing strategies during a period of sustained annual excise tax increases
Between 2010 and 2020, NZ tobacco companies introduced more Super Value cigarette brands and shifted excise tax increases to reduce the impact these had on low-priced brands. Setting a minimum retail price for cigarettes could curtail tobacco companies' ability to undermine tobacco taxation policies designed to reduce smoking
Promoting convergence and closing gaps using affordability-based minimum taxes: An illustration using the European Union Tobacco Tax Directive
Such results show an affordability criterion could be a potentially fruitful complement to the tax reforms proposed in earlier research
Actors, knowledge and path transformations in a declining cluster
We contribute to the literature on cluster dynamics to show that the outcome for declining industrial clusters are not necessarily restricted to death or renewal or replacement. We do so by considering upward and downward causation pressures in the evolution of the North Staffordshire’s ceramics cluster and the role of actors, their visions and the modification of their assets as influenced by both local knowledge sharing and exposure to ‘global …
Measuring Malaysia's Illicit Tobacco Trade: An Excise Tax Gap Analysis
There is a lack of independent data regarding the illicit tobacco trade in Malaysia. Tobacco Industry (TI) commissioned data has previously been criticised for overestimating the illicit tobacco trade and for a lack of methodological transparency. The aim of this study is to present an independent overview of Malaysia’s illicit tobacco market by measuring the country’s factory-made cigarette excise tax gap. Using data sourced from Malaysian gover…
Promoting convergence and closing gaps: A blueprint for the revision of the European Union Tobacco Tax Directive
To promote price convergence and close the price gap between FM and RYO, the revised TTD should ensure minimum FM taxes track a measure of their average EU price, and RYO taxes are related to FM taxes
What does Brexit mean for UK tobacco control
Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of standardised packaging and minimum excise tax on tobacco sales and industry revenue in the UK
The concurrent introduction of standardised packaging and MET in the UK was associated with significant decline in sales and in tobacco industry revenues, and the end of the previous growth in cheap cigarette brands that appeal to young and price conscious smokers
Cigarette-like cigarillo introduced to bypass taxation, standardised packaging, minimum pack sizes, and menthol ban in the UK
The UK has stringent tobacco control legislation, which has been extended most recently to include standardised packaging with minimum pack sizes,1 and from 20 May 2020, a ban on menthol.2 3 However, this legislation applies only to cigarettes and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. In January 2020, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) launched a new product onto the market that bypasses these laws. Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped (figure 1) are officia…
Exploiting a low tax system: Non-tax-induced cigarette price increases in Taiwan 2011–2016
Low and unchanged tobacco taxes enable tobacco companies to use aggressive pricing and segmentation strategies to increase the real price of cigarettes without making them less affordable while simultaneously maintaining customers' loyalty. It is crucial to continue monitoring the industry's pricing strategies and to regularly increase taxes to promote public health and to prevent tobacco industry from profiting at the expense of government reven…
UK tobacco price increases: Driven by industry or public health
The industry has increased its prices beyond that required by tax changes, even when tax rises were larger and unexpected, although were notably smaller in such conditions. This suggests (1) that the industry is not actually concerned by the threat of illicit, especially since RYO had the highest levels of industry driven price increases despite higher levels of illicit, and (2) there remains scope for further tax increases, which should be relat…
Individualised tobacco affordability in the UK 2002–2014: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project
An individualised measure of tobacco affordability provided useful insights on the impact of tobacco taxes, social inequalities and purchase patterns in the UK. Although tobacco became less affordable, the annual rate of decline was low, suggesting annual tax rises were not large enough
Tobacco industry strategies undermine government tax policy: Evidence from commercial data
The TI currently uses a variety of strategies to keep tobacco cheap. The implementation of standardised packaging will prevent small pack sizes and price-marking but further changes in tax policy are needed to minimise the TI's attempts to prevent sudden price increases
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts. Regional Studies. This paper explores the link between local governance structures and the ability of local firms to influence the strategic direction (and future development) of their industrial district. In doing so, it utilizes unique survey data from two British industrial districts to examine, first, the extent to which local firms shape local industrial development strategies and, s…
Big tobacco, E-cigarettes, and a road to the smoking endgame
Perceptions of governance and social capital in Ghana's cocoa industry
Turning the tide: Prospects for an industrial renaissance in the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district
Drawing upon the evolutionary geography literature, we analyse how the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district has begun to reverse a phase of 'long decline ' (1979-2008). Our analysis is based upon a series of interviews with 25 Senior Managers from within the district. We document how the district has purposively begun to exploit its traditional strengths, with firms adopting new strategies, technologies and attitudes to governance (an…
The case for Ofsmoke: The potential for price cap regulation of tobacco to raise £500 million per year in the UK
Applying a system of price-cap regulation in the UK would raise around £500 million per annum (US$750 million). This is likely to be an underestimate because of cautious assumptions used in the model. These significant financial benefits, in addition to the public health benefits that would be generated, suggest this is a policy that should be given serious consideration
Perceptions of governance and social capital in Ghana's cocoa industry
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts. Regional Studies. This paper explores the link between local governance structures and the ability of local firms to influence the strategic direction (and future development) of their industrial district. In doing so, it utilizes unique survey data from two British industrial districts to examine, first, the extent to which local firms shape local industrial development strategies and, s…
Turning the tide: Prospects for an industrial renaissance in the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district
Drawing upon the evolutionary geography literature, we analyse how the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district has begun to reverse a phase of 'long decline ' (1979-2008). Our analysis is based upon a series of interviews with 25 Senior Managers from within the district. We document how the district has purposively begun to exploit its traditional strengths, with firms adopting new strategies, technologies and attitudes to governance (an…
Actors, knowledge and path transformations in a declining cluster
We contribute to the literature on cluster dynamics to show that the outcome for declining industrial clusters are not necessarily restricted to death or renewal or replacement. We do so by considering upward and downward causation pressures in the evolution of the North Staffordshire’s ceramics cluster and the role of actors, their visions and the modification of their assets as influenced by both local knowledge sharing and exposure to ‘global …
The healthy development of economies: A strategic framework for competitiveness in the health industry
Applying a strategic decision-making perspective on the economics of business, we suggest that a competitive locality in the health industry is one that, relative to other localities, is effective in: (1) providing the healthcare that enables everyone to participate fully in the democratic development of the locality; (2) providing the healthcare that is democratically identified as a direct objective of this development; (3) contributing through…
A counterfactual price analysis of British electricity privatisation
A counterfactual price analysis of British electricity privatisation
The healthy development of economies: A strategic framework for competitiveness in the health industry
Applying a strategic decision-making perspective on the economics of business, we suggest that a competitive locality in the health industry is one that, relative to other localities, is effective in: (1) providing the healthcare that enables everyone to participate fully in the democratic development of the locality; (2) providing the healthcare that is democratically identified as a direct objective of this development; (3) contributing through…
The case for OFSMOKE: How tobacco price regulation is needed to promote the health of markets, government revenue and the public
Mainstream economic theory outlines four main causes of market failure and it is already well established that two of these (information failure and externalities) exist in a tobacco market. A third cause of market failure, market power, is also a serious problem in many tobacco markets. Market power--combined with unintended and often overlooked consequences of tobacco tax policies, notably that gradual increases in specific taxes may allow the …
The case for Ofsmoke: The potential for price cap regulation of tobacco to raise £500 million per year in the UK
Applying a system of price-cap regulation in the UK would raise around £500 million per annum (US$750 million). This is likely to be an underestimate because of cautious assumptions used in the model. These significant financial benefits, in addition to the public health benefits that would be generated, suggest this is a policy that should be given serious consideration
Turning the tide: Prospects for an industrial renaissance in the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district
Drawing upon the evolutionary geography literature, we analyse how the North Staffordshire ceramics industrial district has begun to reverse a phase of 'long decline ' (1979-2008). Our analysis is based upon a series of interviews with 25 Senior Managers from within the district. We document how the district has purposively begun to exploit its traditional strengths, with firms adopting new strategies, technologies and attitudes to governance (an…
Big tobacco, E-cigarettes, and a road to the smoking endgame
Perceptions of governance and social capital in Ghana's cocoa industry
Tobacco industry strategies undermine government tax policy: Evidence from commercial data
The TI currently uses a variety of strategies to keep tobacco cheap. The implementation of standardised packaging will prevent small pack sizes and price-marking but further changes in tax policy are needed to minimise the TI's attempts to prevent sudden price increases
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts
Firms, governance and development in industrial districts. Regional Studies. This paper explores the link between local governance structures and the ability of local firms to influence the strategic direction (and future development) of their industrial district. In doing so, it utilizes unique survey data from two British industrial districts to examine, first, the extent to which local firms shape local industrial development strategies and, s…
Individualised tobacco affordability in the UK 2002–2014: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project
An individualised measure of tobacco affordability provided useful insights on the impact of tobacco taxes, social inequalities and purchase patterns in the UK. Although tobacco became less affordable, the annual rate of decline was low, suggesting annual tax rises were not large enough
Exploiting a low tax system: Non-tax-induced cigarette price increases in Taiwan 2011–2016
Low and unchanged tobacco taxes enable tobacco companies to use aggressive pricing and segmentation strategies to increase the real price of cigarettes without making them less affordable while simultaneously maintaining customers' loyalty. It is crucial to continue monitoring the industry's pricing strategies and to regularly increase taxes to promote public health and to prevent tobacco industry from profiting at the expense of government reven…
UK tobacco price increases: Driven by industry or public health
The industry has increased its prices beyond that required by tax changes, even when tax rises were larger and unexpected, although were notably smaller in such conditions. This suggests (1) that the industry is not actually concerned by the threat of illicit, especially since RYO had the highest levels of industry driven price increases despite higher levels of illicit, and (2) there remains scope for further tax increases, which should be relat…
Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of standardised packaging and minimum excise tax on tobacco sales and industry revenue in the UK
The concurrent introduction of standardised packaging and MET in the UK was associated with significant decline in sales and in tobacco industry revenues, and the end of the previous growth in cheap cigarette brands that appeal to young and price conscious smokers
Cigarette-like cigarillo introduced to bypass taxation, standardised packaging, minimum pack sizes, and menthol ban in the UK
The UK has stringent tobacco control legislation, which has been extended most recently to include standardised packaging with minimum pack sizes,1 and from 20 May 2020, a ban on menthol.2 3 However, this legislation applies only to cigarettes and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. In January 2020, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) launched a new product onto the market that bypasses these laws. Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped (figure 1) are officia…
Promoting convergence and closing gaps: A blueprint for the revision of the European Union Tobacco Tax Directive
To promote price convergence and close the price gap between FM and RYO, the revised TTD should ensure minimum FM taxes track a measure of their average EU price, and RYO taxes are related to FM taxes
What does Brexit mean for UK tobacco control
Corporate communication of the relative health risks of Iqos through a webchat service
A variety of claims and information on the relative safety of IQOS were used in webchat communications. Response variation highlights that clearer regulation is needed to appropriately control corporate communications via live webchat services
Tobacco industry pricing strategies for single cigarettes and multistick packs after excise tax increases in Colombia
The pricing strategies identified suggest excise taxes can be increased further, particularly the specific component, to reduce the price gap between brand segments. Brands should be restricted to a single variant along with prohibitions on launching new brands/brand variants. Lastly, since the pricing of single sticks does not match the pattern of packs, more monitoring of their sales and distribution is required, especially since they promote c…
Going ‘Super Value’ in New Zealand: Cigarette pricing strategies during a period of sustained annual excise tax increases
Between 2010 and 2020, NZ tobacco companies introduced more Super Value cigarette brands and shifted excise tax increases to reduce the impact these had on low-priced brands. Setting a minimum retail price for cigarettes could curtail tobacco companies' ability to undermine tobacco taxation policies designed to reduce smoking
Promoting convergence and closing gaps using affordability-based minimum taxes: An illustration using the European Union Tobacco Tax Directive
Such results show an affordability criterion could be a potentially fruitful complement to the tax reforms proposed in earlier research
Actors, knowledge and path transformations in a declining cluster
We contribute to the literature on cluster dynamics to show that the outcome for declining industrial clusters are not necessarily restricted to death or renewal or replacement. We do so by considering upward and downward causation pressures in the evolution of the North Staffordshire’s ceramics cluster and the role of actors, their visions and the modification of their assets as influenced by both local knowledge sharing and exposure to ‘global …
Measuring Malaysia's Illicit Tobacco Trade: An Excise Tax Gap Analysis
There is a lack of independent data regarding the illicit tobacco trade in Malaysia. Tobacco Industry (TI) commissioned data has previously been criticised for overestimating the illicit tobacco trade and for a lack of methodological transparency. The aim of this study is to present an independent overview of Malaysia’s illicit tobacco market by measuring the country’s factory-made cigarette excise tax gap. Using data sourced from Malaysian gover…
How has the tobacco industry passed tax changes through to consumers in 12 sub-Saharan African countries
This paper provides an overview of TI pricing strategies in response to tax increases in SSA. Governments must monitor how the TI responds to tax changes to ensure that tax increases are effective in impacting price
Effect of eliminating the sale of duty-free tobacco products: A natural experiment during the Covid-19 pandemic in Taiwan, 2020–2023
Duty-free tobacco sales associated with international travel should be abolished for the benefit of both public health and government tax revenue
Examining cigarette, heated tobacco and e-cigarette market pricing and tax pass-through in Ukraine during the 2019–2022 tax reforms
The study shows that the industry has used tax increases on HTPs and e-cigs as an opportunity to raise prices but with lower net revenue per stick. The findings suggest that fully harmonising HTP taxes with those on traditional cigarettes could limit the industry's pricing strategies and hence help reduce consumption and generate additional government revenue
Business (22 works) · Economics (21 works) · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology (17 works) · Smoking Behavior and Cessation (14 works) · Medicine (11 works) · Tobacco industry (11 works) · Political science (9 works) · Advertising (8 works) · Finance (8 works) · Marketing (6 works)