Lauren M Wier

Publications (2)6.84 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Monika Stojek

  Article: High-resolution behavioral economic analysis of cigarette demand to inform tax policy.

  James Mackillop, Lauren R Few, James G Murphy, Lauren M Wier, John Acker, Cara Murphy, Monika Stojek, Maureen Carrigan, Frank Chaloupka
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  ABSTRACT: AIMS: Novel methods in behavioral economics permit the systematic assessment of the relationship between cigarette consumption and price. Towards informing tax policy, the goals of this study were to conduct a high-resolution analysis of cigarette demand in a large sample of adult smokers and to use the data to estimate the effects of tax increases in 10 US States. DESIGN: In-person descriptive survey assessment. SETTING: Academic departments at three universities. PARTICIPANTS: Adult daily smokers (i.e. more than five cigarettes/day; 18+ years old; ≥8th grade education); n = 1056. MEASUREMENTS: Estimated cigarette demand, demographics, expired carbon monoxide. FINDINGS: The cigarette demand curve exhibited highly variable levels of price sensitivity, especially in the form of 'left-digit effects' (i.e. very high price sensitivity as pack prices transitioned from one whole number to the next; e.g. $5.80-6/pack). A $1 tax increase in the 10 states was projected to reduce the economic burden of smoking by an average of $530.6 million (range: $93.6-976.5 million) and increase gross tax revenue by an average of 162% (range: 114-247%). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco price sensitivity is non-linear across the demand curve and in particular for pack-level left-digit price transitions. Tax increases in US states with similar price and tax rates to the sample are projected to result in substantial decreases in smoking-related costs and substantial increases in tax revenues.
  Addiction 07/2012; · 4.31 Impact Factor
• Article: The neuroeconomics of nicotine dependence: a preliminary functional magnetic resonance imaging study of delay discounting of monetary and cigarette rewards in smokers.

  James MacKillop, Michael T Amlung, Lauren M Wier, Sean P David, Lara A Ray, Warren K Bickel, Lawrence H Sweet
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  ABSTRACT: Neuroeconomics integrates behavioral economics and cognitive neuroscience to understand the neurobiological basis for normative and maladaptive decision making. Delay discounting is a behavioral economic index of impulsivity that reflects capacity to delay gratification and has been consistently associated with nicotine dependence. This preliminary study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine delay discounting for money and cigarette rewards in 13 nicotine dependent adults. Significant differences between preferences for smaller immediate rewards and larger delayed rewards were evident in a number of regions of interest (ROIs), including the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior insular cortex, middle temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and cingulate gyrus. Significant differences between money and cigarette rewards were generally lateralized, with cigarette choices associated with left hemisphere activation and money choices associated with right hemisphere activation. Specific ROI differences included the posterior parietal cortex, medial and middle frontal gyrus, ventral striatum, temporoparietal cortex, and angular gyrus. Impulsivity as measured by behavioral choices was significantly associated with both individual ROIs and a combined ROI model. These findings provide initial evidence in support of applying a neuroeconomic approach to understanding nicotine dependence.
  Psychiatry Research 05/2012; 202(1):20-9. · 2.52 Impact Factor