Tobacco taxation
Project Title: Economic Research to Support Tobacco Tax Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project Type: International Scientific Research
Project Holder: The Johns Hopkins University
Project Funder: Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with The Johns Hopkins University
Project Leader: Prof. Dragan Gligorić, PhD
Project Team: Prof. Dragan Gligorić, PhD – Research Team Leader
Prof. Zoran Borović, PhD – Senior Researcher
Nikola Vidović, MA – Researcher
Vladana Ritan, MA – Researcher
Project Duration: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2026
Project Value: USD 220,968
About the Project:
The project is part of the global initiative “Accelerating Progress on Tobacco Taxes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”, funded by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. At the global level, the initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of think tanks focused on economic and fiscal policy to provide evidence-based support for effective tobacco taxation policies.
Over the past several years, the initiative has engaged 31 think tanks across 18 low- and middle-income countries, with the objective of enhancing their ability to support governments and civil society in tobacco taxation and to counter industry arguments against tobacco tax increases.
In addition, the project supports strategic engagement with high-level government officials and other relevant stakeholders to raise awareness and strengthen the technical capacity of tobacco tax policymakers.
Project Objective:
The objective of the project is to build and strengthen the capacity of research institutions, including the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka, to conduct high-quality economic research on the socioeconomic impact of tobacco taxation and to support policy dialogue through the dissemination of research findings.
Project Activities
In 2024, project activities focus on analyzing the affordability of tobacco products and conducting tax simulations.In 2025, the research includes assessing the size and characteristics of the illicit tobacco market, examining household resource allocation due to tobacco expenditures (crowding-out effect), and evaluating the impact of tobacco taxation on tax revenues and public health.In 2026, in addition to continuing research on the impact of tobacco taxation on tax revenues and public health, the project analyzes the relationship between cigarette consumption and poverty. A specific research topic in 2026 is also a detailed analysis of tobacco consumption patterns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular focus on novel tobacco products and cessation behavior, as well as the development of policy recommendations to address the growing use of these products, especially among younger populations.
The project also includes activities aimed at disseminating research findings to decision-makers and the broader public. These activities involve the preparation and publication of policy guidelines, organization of national roundtable discussions, and participation in regional and international conferences and meetings. In 2026, dissemination activities will be further expanded, while the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka will continue to provide relevant analytical support for the development of effective tobacco tax policies.
Previous project publications are available at: Economics for Health