Ohio's New Smoking Ban
This past November election Ohio citizens voted to pass a law banning smoking in “public places” and “places of employment”. The law also said that these places must post “No Smoking” signs and remove all ashtrays.
As we learned in class, there are a number of different demand shifters. In this case it was a change in preference. According to this economic theory, it would be plausible to say that fewer people chose to smoke (change in preference) as a result of this government intervention. A decrease in demand for cigarettes would then create disequilibrium of a surplus.
Would you agree with this claim? Do you think that because of the new law there are actually less people smoking? If so, do you think there are enough people making that choice to have any affect on the demand curve?
13 comments:
No, I think that passing a law banning smoking in "public places" and "places of employment" will not decrease the amount of people that smoke. I think that people will keep smoking just as much as they have in the past and that they'll find a way around the law to do so. Therefore, in my opinion, I think that this new law will not have an effect on the demand curve. I think that the demand for cigarettes will stay exactly the same and the supply will stay the same as well. I think that the demand curve will stay at equilibrium.
No, I also believe that the new laws will have no bearing on the number of people who actually smoke.
As Sidra said, people usually find ways around the rules. I know this first hand. I worked at a place over Christmas break where several of the workers continued to smoke where they were not allowed to be, even though it was a new law.
In my opinion, a person who has smoked 30 years is unlikely to be affected by smoking ban. So to answer Maggie's question, I would have to say that I doubt that this new law has had any real affect on the people who smoke.
I also doubt that the ban on smoking in public places will have much effect on people who smoke. A more interesting demand shift would probably be the demand of smokers for places to eat or socialize comfortably. Smokers want to smoke when they are eating or socializing, if they cannot do this in the public places that they were previously able to, they may go elsewhere.
I think that in the short run the demand will fall, but in the long run the demand will equal back out. I think this mostly because people will get mad about the law and decide to quit but cigarettes is a drug; a drug that is addicting. Thus, people will begin to smoke again because of the addiction and finding ways around the new law.
It seems like a disequilibrium will take place due to this new ban on smoking in Ohio. Also, while we may not see the effects of this ban right away, it will slowly become apparent as the economy starts to shift to make up for the disequilibrium.
In the beginning there aren't less people smoking. Like everyone who has previously posted, it is a drug and people get addicted to it and it isnt easy to quit. However the new law might help someone who has been smoke free for a couple of years from being tempted to start smoking again. If the rule is enforced I think it will cause people to smoke less. People will get tired of not going to certain establisments or get tired of being kicked out for trying to smoke in a restaurant.
The demand shifter will, obviously, shift the demand curve. At every price, there will be fewer people willing to smoke since their location options are limited. This will not create a surplus though. The market equilibrium will change, but if you believe in the invisible hand, the market will adjust to the new equilibrium position. Both the price and quantity demanded of cigarettes will go down. There will be no surplus though because the market will move toward equilibrium.
I don't think that this will change anything in the long run. If someone is going to smoke than they will. They will just have to find some place new to do it. I don't see a change in the amount of people smoking when I am around town, they are just doing it in different places like I said before. This could shift the demand curve, but more laws with a more strict consequence would have to be put into affect if this really is going to change the demand.
I dont think that passing the law actually made a big impact on people to stop smoking. I think the biggest reason the law passed was for those who dont smoke and receiving secondhand smoke because it is not the non-smoker's fault that they do not have a filter and have to breathe in the smoker's air. I think that this law is very equal in that smoker's can still smoke just outside and non-smokers dont have to inhale the smoke. I am not against smokers at all, but I do not enjoy inhaling smoke.
I do not think that passing this law will impact the number of people smoking. Many people who smoke already are required to smoke outside during work, or when they are in their own homes or those of others. This idea is no different that if you had to step outside to smoke at work. I do beliebe however that if the price of cigarettes increase then the number of smokers will decrease due to the change in price of cigarettes.
I don't think that there are less people smoking because of this ban. As an employee who works with smokers, there has not been a change in my co-workers habits just because of a new law. I agree that if prices jump, then people will cut back on their intake or cut out cigarettes all together. Lets face it, there reaches a point where people can't afford this habit any longer and their money will become more important to them than the utility of smoking.
I believe that the banning of smoking will not decrease the amount of people that smoke. I also, believe that this new law will hurt public places like restaurants. Smokers will have to go outside to smoke and yet it will be an inconvenience for them they can't help it.
I don't think banning smoking will decreass the number of people that will somke. Therefor not creating a disequilibrium and not changing the demand curve. People will smoke just as much as they do now weather or not they are allowed in pubic places. The only way the curve will change is if the price of them goes up a lot.
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