The Costs of Poor Health Habits

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“Imagine a book written by economists that is technically sophisticated, packed with interesting data, and concerned with a topic that is of great interest to policy makers as well as individuals interested in improving their health. The Costs of Poor Health Habits satisfies this bill. This work is a carefully executed, economically based, large scale empirical study of the costs, especially external costs, of smoking, drinking, and a sedentary lifestyle… As might be expected of any large, important study on a controversial topic, this book has already generated interesting debate… This book will continue to attract much attention and generate controversy, and deservedly so as it is a major work in this area. In addition, it is well written, carefully executed, and technically sophisticated, yet accessible to a broad audience.”—Jody L. Sindelar, Journal of Economic Literature

“In what is probably the best single source on the costs of poor health habits, this study combines up-to-date information in one volume and provides very valuable economic analysis of costs, particularly on the treatment of external costs. The external costs, or how poor health habits of some people (e.g., smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise) impose costs on others, are important in terms of government, and insurance companies’ and employers’ efforts to improve health habits… The data sources, conceptual framework, and statistical analysis are well used and formulated. The authors draw important and usable policy implications.”—Choice