Meta-analysis of alcohol price and income elasticities – with corrections for publication bias
Year: 2013
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: BACKGROUND: This paper contributes to the evidence-base on prices and alcohol use by presenting meta-analytic summaries of price and income elasticities for alcohol beverages. The analysis improves on previous meta-analyses by correcting for outliers and publication bias. METHODS: Adjusting for outliers is important to avoid assigning too much weight to studies with very small standard errors or large effect sizes. Trimmed samples are used for this purpose. Correcting for publication bias is important to avoid giving too much weight to studies that reflect selection by investigators or others involved with publication processes. Cumulative meta-analysis is proposed as a method to avoid or reduce publication bias, resulting in more robust estimates. The literature search obtained 182 primary studies for aggregate alcohol consumption, which exceeds the database used in previous reviews and meta-analyses. RESULTS: For individual beverages, corrected price elasticities are smaller (less elastic) by 28-29 percent compared with consensus averages frequently used for alcohol beverages. The average price and income elasticities are: beer, -0.30 and 0.50; wine, -0.45 and 1.00; and spirits, -0.55 and 1.00. For total alcohol, the price elasticity is -0.50 and the income elasticity is 0.60. CONCLUSIONS: These new results imply that attempts to reduce alcohol consumption through price or tax increases will be less effective or more costly than previously claimed.
Source: Health Economics Review
Author: Jon P Nelson
Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
OpenAlex ID: W2108523248