BACKGROUND: Smoking continues to be a critical public health issue in China and plays a major role in the global tobacco epidemic. Principles from behavioral economics, such as financial incentives, social norms, and loss aversion, offer a fresh and innovative perspective to strengthen tobacco control strategies. This study examines the impact of these approaches on smoking cessation rates, cigarette consumption, and adherence to quitting programs while also factoring in key socioeconomic and psychological influences.
METHODS: This research employs a quantitative approach, using secondary data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and supplementary reports from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The analysis investigates how behavioral economic nudges affect smoking behavior among Chinese adults.
RESULTS: The results reveal that financial incentives, such as subsidies for cessation tools and loss-framed interventions, significantly improved smoking cessation rates. For example, individuals who faced financial penalties for continuing to smoke were more likely to quit than those who only received conventional cessation support. Additionally, social norm-based strategies, such as group cessation programs, increased adherence compared to approaches focused solely on individuals. The effects of these interventions were influenced by socioeconomic factors, with individuals possessing higher education levels showing greater responsiveness to loss-aversion techniques.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that incorporating behavioral economic nudges into tobacco control policies can enhance smoking cessation outcomes. Policymakers are encouraged to design interventions that align with China’s unique cultural and socioeconomic conditions to achieve the greatest public health benefits.