Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) Spending and Tobacco Control Efforts

<div><p>We investigate whether the distributions to the states from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998 is associated with stronger tobacco control efforts. We use state level data from 50 states and the District of Columbia from four time periods post MSA (1999, 2002, 2004, and 2006) for the analysis. Using fixed effect regression models, we estimate the relationship between MSA disbursements and a new aggregate measure of strength of state tobacco control known as the Strength of Tobacco Control (SoTC) Index. Results show an increase of $1 in the annual per capita MSA disbursement to a state is associated with a decrease of −0.316 in the SoTC mean value, indicating higher MSA payments were associated with weaker tobacco control measures within states. In order to achieve the initial objectives of the MSA payments, policy makers should focus on utilizing MSA payments strictly on tobacco control activities across states.</p></div

Youth and Adult Smoking Rates.

<p>Youth and Adult Smoking Rates.</p

Fixed effects regression results of SoTC index and sub-component indexes, excluding states that securitized MSA payments before 2006.

<p>Source: Authors' analysis of the data set used in the study.</p><p>Note: T-statistics are shown in the parentheses.</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05;</p><p>**<i>p</i><0.01.</p><p>Fixed effects regression results of SoTC index and sub-component indexes, excluding states that securitized MSA payments before 2006.</p

Fixed effects regression results of SoTC index and sub-component indexes.

<p>Source: Authors' analysis of the data set used in the study.</p><p>Note: T-statistics are shown in the parentheses.</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05;</p><p>**<i>p</i><0.01.</p><p>Fixed effects regression results of SoTC index and sub-component indexes.</p

Average SoTC values across the 4 years (99, 02, 04, 06) by state, from highest to lowest.

<p>Source: Authors' analysis of the data set used in the study.</p><p>Average SoTC values across the 4 years (99, 02, 04, 06) by state, from highest to lowest.</p