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Recently, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in research projects to develop new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines for tuberculosis. However, no laboratory advance will save even one of the millions facing death this year and next . . .

Introducing a specific tax of VND 1750 (US$ 0.11) per pack of 20 cigarettes, indexed to inflation, would raise an additional VND 4.3 trillion (US$ 268 million) in tax revenue annually and avert approximately 339,000 premature deaths.

To reduce the demand for tobacco, excise tax increases and the resulting higher prices are a proven effective measure that governments can adopt as part of an overall strategy of tobacco control.

If tax represents 70 percent of the retail price, the number of smokers would decline by almost 2 million, and about 1 million tobacco-related deaths would be avoided. At the same time, the government would collect an additional UAH 5.8 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) in excise tax revenue per year.

If Russia chooses to reach the level where tobacco tax represents 70 percent of the retail price, up to 2.7 million tobacco-related deaths among the Russian population can be avoided. Furthermore, the government would collect an additional RUB 153 billion (US$ 6 billion) in excise tax revenue per year

An increase in the specific excise tax of RMB 1 on a pack of cigarettes would increase government revenue by RMB 64.9 billion (US$ 7.9 billion), save 3.4 million lives, reduce medical costs by RMB 2.68 billion (US$ 325 million) and generate a productivity gain of RMB 9.92 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) for the Chinese economy.

Over the past decade a clear dichotomy has developed between developed and developingcountries. Cigarettes are becoming less affordable in developed countries and much more affordable in developing countries.

Implementing the maximum legally allowable tobacco tax rates could prevent between 1.7 and 4.0 million tobacco-related deaths among smokers and generate additional revenues of US$ 3.2 to 6.5 billion. Doubling the tobacco tax could increase employment by more than one quarter of a million jobs.

Bidis are under-taxed compared to cigarettes, taking into account the health risks of each, and therefore, on health grounds, a strong case can be made for increasing the excise burden on bidis.

Governments can raise significant revenue through cigarette taxes without placing a large net burden on the poor. Indeed, for most parameter values our calculations suggest that tobacco taxes are progressive.