Exploring the impact of foreign direct investment on tobacco consumption in the former Soviet Union

Anna Gilmore · Martin McKee

62 citations0/0 files storedTobacco Control

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Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology Smoking Behavior and Cessation Occupational Health and Global Justice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is the single largest cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world; in the former socialist bloc tobacco kills twice as many men as in the west. Although evidence shows that liberalisation of the cigarette trade through the elimination of import barriers leads to significant increases in consumption, far less is known about the impact of foreign direct investment on cigarette consumption. This paper seeks to explore the impact that the substantial transnational tobacco company investments have had on patterns of tobacco trade and consumption in the former Soviet Union. DESIGN: Routine data were used to explore trends in cigarette trade and consumption in the 15 countries of the former Soviet Union from the 1960s to the present day. Comparisons were made between trends in countries that have received substantial investment from the tobacco transnationals and countries that have not. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2000 cigarette production increased by 96% in countries receiving industry investment and by 11% in countries that did not. Over the same period cigarette consumption increased by 40%; the increase was concentrated in countries receiving investments. Despite these investments, cigarette imports still outweigh exports and no trade surplus has yet to result. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that liberalisation of inward investment has a significant and positive impact on cigarette consumption and that without appropriate safeguards, market liberalisation may have long term negative impacts on health. Specific trade rules are needed to govern trade and investment in this uniquely harmful product. Implementation of effective tobacco control policies should precede tobacco industry privatisation. International financial organisations pressing for privatisation should ensure this occurs.

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References

2015Globalization and Its Discontents 1997Mortality by cause for eight regions of the world: Global Burden of Disease Study 2002Transition, The First Ten Years: Analysis and Lessons for Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union 1997The Social Determinants of the Decline of Life Expectancy in Russia and Eastern Europe: A Lifestyle Explanation 2002Transition--The First Ten Years 1996U.S. Trade Policy and Cigarette Smoking in Asia 2004Tobacco and transition: an overview of industry investments, impact and influence in the former Soviet Union: Table 6 2000The impact of trade liberalization on tobacco consumption

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