Hana Ross
Biographic Data
| ID | 6083378 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Hana Ross |
| GIVEN NAMES | Hana |
| FAMILY NAME | Ross |
| SIGNATURE | ROSS H |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cape Town |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5799-1915 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 50 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 50 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Tracking the Track-and-Trace
Within 2 years of TTS implementation, cigarette tax administration improved significantly for the two leading multinational manufacturers, but not for local manufacturers
The illicit cigarette market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
This study aimed to estimate the proportion of cigarettes consumed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that are illicit and the extent of cigarette tax evasion; and to identify the origins of and factors associated with illicit cigarettes. Data were collected from May 15 to June 9, 2023. Stratified, multistage sampling was used to select 32 health areas from which empty cigarette packs were collected. Each collected pack was examined an…
The impact of the GST reform on state-level tobacco use prevalence in India
The study demonstrates that wherever the GST reform led to an increase in the tax burden, it resulted in a small but statistically significant reduction in tobacco use prevalence, emphasising the effectiveness of taxation as a tool to regulate tobacco consumption. It underscores the need for sustained public health-focused fiscal policies, including regular increases in excise duties, to further reduce tobacco use prevalence in India
Differential effects of tobacco taxation across educational groups
In Poland, increases in the cigarette excise tax will reduce smoking prevalence and consumption volume mainly among the non-tertiary-educated population. Non-economic factors appear to primarily drive the decline in smoking prevalence among tertiary-educated people
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…
Evaluating compliance with track and trace and other regulations in Pakistan’s cigarette market
Almost a third of the packs collected did not bear a tax stamp, mostly due to the lack of compliance by local companies, confirming a recent review of the TTS implementation by the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR). Even the largest companies that ostensibly adopted the TTS did not fully comply with the system, signalling poor enforcement. This is a missed opportunity, since a well-functioning TTS combined with proper enforcement is an effective me…
An overlooked market
The features of the loose cigarette markets present a challenge for tobacco control policy, especially tobacco tax policy. One way to overcome this challenge is to aim for large, rather than incremental, tax increases
Response of legal and illegal cigarette prices to a tax increase in Ethiopia
The prices of both legal and illegal cigarettes increased following the 2020 tax increase, with the average real cigarette price increasing by 24%. As a result, the tax increase likely had a positive impact on public health despite a sizeable illicit cigarette market
Magnitude of illicit cigarette trade in Malaysia
Therefore, a reduction in cigarette excise taxes, as suggested by the industry, will not solve the problem of illicit cigarette trade in Malaysia. Instead, the government should ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and implement the strategies outlined in the protocol
How much to pay for a track and trace system
The break-even simulation model provides a practical tool for the government to plan the implementation of T&T and to set up an evaluation criteria for the T&T tender process. The simulations illustrate that implementing T&T in South Africa would both reduce consumption (licit and illicit) and generate additional revenue. With some modifications, the model can be applied to other countries as well
Understanding Period Poverty
Menstrual hygiene management and health is increasingly gaining policy importance in a bid to promote dignity, gender equality and reproductive health. Effective and adequate menstrual hygiene management requires women and girls to have access to their menstrual health materials and products of choice, but also extends into having private, clean and safe spaces for using these materials. The paper provides empirical evidence of the inequality in …
Analysis of the illicit tobacco market in Georgia in response to fiscal and non-fiscal tobacco control measures
No evidence of a country-wide increase in illicit cigarette trade was found after non-fiscal tobacco measures took effect and cigarette taxes increased. Relatively high illicit cigarette consumption in Zugdidi highlights the role of disputed territories and border administration in illicit cigarette supply. Substitution towards roll-your-own tobacco after manufactured cigarette taxes increased demonstrates the importance of equalising taxes on to…
Illicit cigarette trade in the cities of Pakistan
One in six cigarette packs consumed in Pakistan could be illicit. These figures are far less than those propagated by the tobacco industry. Collecting packs from waste recycle stores is an efficient and valid method to estimate illicit cigarette trade
Tobacco industry compliance with the EU track and tracing system in Lithuania
The tobacco industry most likely disregarded the EU T&T transitional period as no packs with UIs were found up until the full implementation. Packs without UIs were still found 4 months after the full implementation of the EU T&T system
Analysing the trend of illicit tobacco in the Philippines from 1998 to 2018
Tobacco taxation is the most effective measure to reduce cigarette consumption and consequently improve public health outcomes. It is also an important source of government revenue. The presence of an illicit tobacco market diminishes the public health and fiscal gains of cigarette levies by making cheaper non-taxed cigarettes available. To date, the research on the extent of illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines, despite its potential to info…
Estimating the Magnitude of Illicit Cigarette Trade in Bangladesh
The illicit tobacco trade undermines the effectiveness of tobacco tax policies; increases the availability of cheap cigarettes, which, in turn, increases tobacco use and tobacco related deaths; and causes huge revenue losses to governments. There is limited evidence on the extent of illicit tobacco trade particularly cigarettes in Bangladesh. The paper presents the protocol for a mixed-methods study to estimate the extent of illicit cigarette tra…
The illicit cigarette market in six South African townships
The illicit cigarette trade in South African townships is widespread. The government should implement an independent track and trace system to curb tax evasion. This would reduce the availability of illicit cigarettes, improve public health and increase excise tax collection
Illicit Cigarette Consumption and Government Revenue Loss in Vietnam
This article provides the first comprehensive picture and independent estimates of both illicit cigarette consumption and the resulting government tax revenue loss in Vietnam using data from a representative survey of cigarette smokers in 12 Vietnamese provinces. The survey consisted of face-to-face interviews and on-site cigarette pack examinations. We find that more than 720 million illicit cigarette packs, or 20.7% of total cigarette consumpti…
Tobacco industry tactics in response to cigarette excise tax increases in Mauritius
Through its pricing strategy, BAT has greatly undermined Mauritius's tobacco control policy. However, BAT cannot continue undershifting the excise tax on economy brands, since the net-of-tax proportion of the retail price is very low already. BAT would have little choice but to increase the retail price on economy brands in response to future excise tax increases. The government of Mauritius is encouraged to keep the specific excise tax structure…
Consumption of legal and illegal cigarettes in the Gambia
Despite recent excise tobacco tax increases, the use of illicit cigarettes in the Gambia is low and does not represent a significant obstacle to reaching both the public health and fiscal goals of higher tobacco taxes
Impact of tax increases on illicit cigarette trade in Mongolia
The share of illicit cigarettes declined between rounds 1 and 2 despite the import tax increase, and this trend continued in round 3 despite the excise tax increase
Illicit cigarette trade in South Africa
The current levels of illicit trade are extremely high and need to be addressed urgently by implementing effective control mechanisms such as a track and trace system to monitor the production, taxation, and sale of cigarettes
Illicit tobacco trade in Georgia
Despite recent tobacco tax increases, illicit cigarette trade in Georgia seems to be negligible. The market is more vulnerable to illicit cigarette trade close to the border with Abkhazia (near Zugdidi). Tighter control or ban of tobacco sales at kiosks and informal outlets may reduce illicit cigarette trade. Further investigation is planned to better understand why a large proportion of survey participants said they had no pack available at home
Why governments cannot afford Codentify to support their track and trace solutions
This study demonstrates the inefficiency of Codentify compared to other solutions that incorporate material-based security features. Signatories to the ITP should reject Codentify due to both its low efficacy and its clear violation of the ITP's requirement that T&T shall not be performed by or delegated to the tobacco industry or its front groups
Lifestyle and Income-related Inequality in Health in South Africa
This study provides evidence that inequalities in both self-reported and lifestyle-related ill-health are highly prevalent within smokers and the poor. These inequalities need to be explicitly addressed in future programme planning to reduce health inequalities in South Africa. We suggest that policies that can influence poor individuals to reduce tobacco consumption and harmful alcohol use will improve their health and reduce health inequalities
The Role of Training in Global Tobacco Control Research
Despite the pandemic nature of the tobacco control problem, little attention has been given to the role of research training in stemming the global tide of tobacco use. Tobacco research plays a critical role in both shaping policy and saving lives, and training new tobacco researchers is an important part of the tobacco control agenda. There are several conceptual training models, all of which emphasize communicative partnerships and multidiscipl…
The Role of Training in Global Tobacco Control Research
Despite the pandemic nature of the tobacco control problem, little attention has been given to the role of research training in stemming the global tide of tobacco use. Tobacco research plays a critical role in both shaping policy and saving lives, and training new tobacco researchers is an important part of the tobacco control agenda. There are several conceptual training models, all of which emphasize communicative partnerships and multidiscipl…
Cigarette purchase patterns in four countries and the relationship with cessation
Data from this study indicate that there are lower levels of making a quit attempt among purchasers of low/untaxed cigarettes compared to purchasers of full-priced cigarettes. The availability of low/untaxed cigarettes may mitigate the influence of increases in cigarette prices
The costs of smoking in Vietnam
The social costs of smoking in Vietnam as the percentage of GDP is lower compared to estimates from high-income countries. The true costs would be substantially higher if all smoking-related diseases, outpatient care and mortality-related costs are included. More research is needed to augment the estimates presented in this paper
The role of tobacco control policies in reducing smoking and deaths in a middle income nation
The results document the success of Thailand in reducing smoking prevalence and reducing the number of lives lost to smoking, thereby showing the potential of tobacco control policies specifically in a middle-income country. Additional improvements can be realised through higher taxes, stronger clean air policies, comprehensive cessation treatment policies, and targeted media campaigns
Cigarette purchasing behaviour in Thailand and Malaysia
A wide range of cigarette prices can undermine the impact of tobacco tax policy when smokers switch to cheaper cigarettes instead of quitting. In order to better understand this behaviour, we study socio-economic determinants of price/brand choices in two different markets: a semi-monopolistic market in Thailand and a competitive market in Malaysia. The hypothesis that the factors affecting the price/brand choice are different in these two market…
The impact of tobacco control policies in Albania
The impacts of smoke-free policies and an advertising ban have been limited due to lack of enforcement and failure to adopt a comprehensive set of tobacco control measures. These measures should include sizeable and regular tobacco tax increases in excess of the general level of inflation and income growth. The decline in the share of illicit cigarettes should improve the effectiveness of the cigarette tax policy
Changes in smoking prevalence among U.S. adults by state and region
State level policies on cigarette excise taxes and indoor air legislation correlate strongly with reductions in smoking prevalence since 1992. Strengthening and systematically implementing these policies could greatly accelerate further reductions in smoking
Economic and public health impact of 2007–2010 tobacco tax increases in Ukraine
The higher real tobacco excise taxes of 2009 and 2010 have significantly reduced tobacco consumption in Ukraine, resulting in encouraging public health and fiscal gains. It will be important for cigarette prices/taxes to keep pace with inflation and income growth for this impact to be sustained
Tobacco expenditure and its implications for household resource allocation in Cambodia
The first analysis of the study showed that increased education is associated with lower daily smoking, and the second analysis revealed that expenditures on tobacco crowds out expenditures on education. Combining these two results points to a vicious circle where low education means higher likelihood of smoking, which in turn results in lower spending on education. Such budget allocation clearly has negative intergenerational consequences
Is youth smoking responsive to cigarette prices? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries
Cigarette price is an important determinant of smoking. The estimated price elasticity of smoking participation is -0.74, and the estimated price elasticity of conditional cigarette demand is approximately -1.37. The total price elasticity of cigarette demand is -2.11, implying that an increase in price of 10% would reduce youth cigarette consumption by 21.1% at the mean
Counting 15 million more poor in India, thanks to tobacco
Objective To quantify the impact of tobacco use and the related medical expenditure on poverty in India. Methods Tobacco expenditure and associated medical expenditure attributable to tobacco use were subtracted from the household monthly consumption expenditure in order to derive an appropriate measure of household disposable income. The 2004 National Sample Survey, a nationally representative survey of Indian households, was used to estimate th…
Development assistance for global tobacco control
Since the funding for both infectious and non-communicable diseases in low-resourced countries is inadequate, the solution for global tobacco control is not to shift resources from other public health priorities, but rather to generate additional tobacco control funding. Several mechanisms to achieve this goal are proposed
Cigarette affordability in Europe
Joining the EU results in significant increases in excise taxes and prices, and declines in affordability. Additionally, the structure of taxes, specifically the high excise tax floor resulted in higher taxes and prices
A cross-country study of cigarette prices and affordability
In this sample of countries, cigarettes are most affordable in Russia, which has the most room for tobacco tax increase. Affordability is also relatively high in Brazil and China for cigarettes, and in India and Bangladesh for bidis. Although the affordability of cigarettes in India is relatively low, the range of cigarette prices paid is relatively high, providing additional evidence to support the call for simplifying the existing tax structure…
Russia SimSmoke
SimSmoke results highlight the relative contribution of policies to reducing the tobacco health burden in Russia. Significant inroads to reducing smoking prevalence and premature mortality can be achieved through strengthening tobacco control policies in line with FCTC recommendations
Contrasting academic and tobacco industry estimates of illicit cigarette trade
Our findings are consistent with previous evidence of the tobacco industry exaggerating the scope of illicit trade and with the general pattern of the industry manipulating evidence to mislead the debate on tobacco control policy in many countries. Collaboration between governments and the tobacco industry to estimate tobacco tax avoidance and evasion is likely to produce upward-biased estimates of illicit cigarette trade. If governments are pres…
Direct and indirect costs of smoking in Vietnam
Tobacco consumption has large negative consequences on the Vietnamese economy
Cigarette price level and variation in five Southeast Asian countries
Tobacco industry strategy and excise tax structure drove the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in packs, while currency denominations influence the selling price of single sticks. To maximise the effectiveness of tobacco tax policies, countries should adopt specific excise tax structures to decrease cigarette price variation, which would minimise opportunities for smokers to 'trade down' to a cheaper brand to avoid a tax-driven price i…
Tobacco control funding for low-income and middle-income countries in a time of economic hardship
Our findings are consistent with the patterns in general levels of development assistance for health: after a decade of rapid growth, funding for tobacco control activities in LMICs has levelled off. Just as the tobacco control community is beginning to envision the endgame for tobacco, the funding remains erratic, inadequate, and highly vulnerable due to its level of concentration. Innovative financing mechanisms might help to increase the fundi…
Assessment of the European Union's illicit trade agreements with the four major Transnational Tobacco Companies
To address the illicit cigarette trade, the European Union (EU) has signed agreements with the four major Transnational Tobacco Companies (TTCs) that involve establishing extensive systems of cooperation. All agreements foresee two types of payments: annual payments (totalling US$ 1.9 billion over 20 years) and supplementary seizure payments, equivalent to 100% of the evaded taxes in the event of seizures of their products. While limited by the f…
A closer look at ‘Cheap White’ cigarettes
We confirmed that many Cheap White brands do not comply with the legal requirements in countries where they are sold, but also found that some of these cigarettes appear to be sold legally even outside their country of origin. The presence of untaxed Cheap Whites undermines tobacco tax policies, while the availability of legal cheap cigarettes is a public health concern
The impact of the Malaysian minimum cigarette price law
The MPL appears not to have meaningfully changed cigarette prices in Malaysia, as licit brand prices remained well above and illicit brand prices remained well below the minimum price level before and after MPL's implementation. The increasing proportion of illicit cigarettes on the market may have undermined any positive health effects of the Malaysian MPL. The illicit cigarette trade must be addressed before a full evaluation of the Malaysian M…
Current and past smoking patterns in a Central European urban population
Interventions to increase cessation rates and reduce smoking prevalence need to be gender-specific and carefully tailored to the needs of the disadvantaged groups of the population, especially the less well-off young adults. Future studies should examine the equity impact of the tobacco control policies and be inclusive of the Central and East European countries
Lifestyle and Income-related Inequality in Health in South Africa
This study provides evidence that inequalities in both self-reported and lifestyle-related ill-health are highly prevalent within smokers and the poor. These inequalities need to be explicitly addressed in future programme planning to reduce health inequalities in South Africa. We suggest that policies that can influence poor individuals to reduce tobacco consumption and harmful alcohol use will improve their health and reduce health inequalities
The heterogeneous impact of a successful tobacco control campaign
These results suggest that tobacco control policies, including sizeable tax increases, were progressive in their impact. We conclude that tobacco use increases poverty and inequality, but stronger tobacco control policies can mitigate the impact of tobacco use on impoverishment
Medicine (45 works) · Business (39 works) · Environmental health (33 works) · Smoking Behavior and Cessation (31 works) · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology (29 works) · Economics (28 works) · Public health (24 works) · Tobacco control (21 works) · Advertising (16 works) · Political science (16 works)