When do smokers 'underestimate' smoking related mortality risks?

• Published in: Applied economics letters Vol. 12; no. 13; pp. 789 - 794
• Main Authors: Costa-Font, Joan, Rovira, Joan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 20-10-2005; Taylor and Francis Journals; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Series: Applied Economics Letters
• Subjects: Applied economics; Decision making; Economic analysis; Estimation; Human behaviour; Life expectancy; Mortality; Perception; Perceptions; Risk; Risk management; Smoking; Studies; Spain
• ISSN: 1350-4851; 1466-4291
• DOI: 10.1080/13504850500190279

This article examines the role of relative mortality risk perceptions in explaining smoking decision making. Some studies have provided evidence that perceptions of risks of smoking are overestimated. However, estimates tend to be sensitive to the estimate it is compared to. Using the same representative survey for Spain, as in other studies, this article finds that though relative mortality risk perceptions explain the decision to smoke and perceived life expectancy loss associated with smoking in Spain was not underestimated, smokers' mortality risk perceptions seem to underestimate the risks.