has abstract
| - The Public Finance Balance of Smoking in the Czech Republic was a 2001 report commissioned by Philip Morris's Czech division following concerns raised by the Czech health ministry that smoking's costs outweighed its fiscal benefits. The study was conducted by Arthur D. Little and found that smokers' early mortality and cigarette-tax revenue outweighed the costs of health-care and lost tax revenue from early death. The study concluded through cost-benefit analysis "based on up-to-date reliable data and consideration of all relevant contributing factors, the effect of smoking on the public finance balance in the Czech Republic in 1999 was positive, estimated at +5,815 mil. CZK." The report which was leaked on July 16, 2001, was met with condemnation and subjected Philip Morris to vitriolic criticism from politicians, anti-smoking activists, economists and watchdog groups. Philip Morris subsequently disavowed the report and apologized for its conclusion. A subsequent study by economist Hana Ross demonstrated that smoking deprived the Czech government budget of at least 14,455 mil CZK (or $373 million) annually, thus defeating the "death benefit" argument. The report was unusual as historically, tobacco companies had disputed the link between smoking and early mortality, whereas the report used early mortality as a selling point. Though similar studies in Europe had been done a decade earlier, Philip Morris stated that it had canceled any new similar reports in countries including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia. CNN reported that an Arthur D. Little representative had told them that Philip Morris had commissioned similar studies in Canada and the Netherlands, though Philip Morris stated it had no such on-going reports. The Czech Prime Minister, Miloš Zeman had previously noted the "death benefit" stating that "By smoking, I contribute to the stability of the state budget. By buying cigarettes, I increase state revenues, and I will die of lung cancer, so the state won’t have to pay me a pension." In addition, Zeman had stated that "As a smoker, I support the state budget, because in the Czech Republic we pay tax on tobacco. Also, smokers die sooner, and the state does not need to look after them in their old age." (en)
- 在捷克卫生部提出对香烟代价超过财政收益的顾虑后,菲利普·莫里斯捷克分支委托做出了捷克共和国香烟的公共财政平衡的报告。报告发现,由于吸烟者早逝而省下的费用和香烟税的收入超过了早逝带来的医保花销和税收降低 。研究通过成本效益分析得出结论:“基于最新的可靠数据与所有相关因素的考虑,1999年香烟对捷克共和国的公共财政平衡影响为正,约为+58.15亿CZK。” 2001年7月16日,这份报告泄密。泄密后引起政客、禁烟组织和监督组织对菲利普·莫里斯公司的强烈谴责。该公司起初为报告辩护,后来对报告结论做出道歉。尽管如此,报告提出的“死亡利益”仍然是令人们持续争论的话题。 这份报告之所以不同寻常,是因为在此之前,烟草公司曾经否认吸烟与早逝之间的联系,而这份报告却把早逝作为卖点。在此之前,菲利普·莫里斯就在欧洲其他国家作过类似的报告,而泄密之后该公司宣布取消在包括波兰、斯洛伐克、匈牙利和斯洛文尼亚的国家作出新报告的计划。CNN报道,一名理特咨询公司代表说,曾被该公司委托过在加拿大和荷兰的报告。 (zh)
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