Reprinted from American Economic Review, Volume 85, Number 2, Chaloupka FJ, Public policies and private anti-health behavior, 45-49, 1995, with permission from the American Economic Association. Public policies and private anti-health behavior ABSTRACT Health economists have long recognized the distinction between health as an output and medical care as one of a number of inputs, including those detrimental to health, into the production of health. This distinction is reflected by the two programs for health research at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER): the program in Health Economics and the program in Health Care Economics. This paper reviews recently completed and current research by my colleagues and me in the NBER's Health Economics program directed by Michael Grossman. This work focuses on the effects of public policies on three unhealthy behaviors: cigarette smoking, drinking and alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use. Given the well-documented health and other consequences of the use of these substances, policies lowering use, particularly by youths, are likely to lead to substantial long-run improvements in health. Published journal article (338K PDF) Back to Top