The 2022 Asian Development Outlook highlights the challenge of domestic revenue mobilization including from corrective health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages in developing Asia. This event discusses the potential for higher corrective taxes to help prevent many non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and contribute revenue in the region. Corrective tax revenues for almost all countries in developing Asia are effective in reducing consumption of harmful products yet remain modest compared to the productivity loss from death and disability and the costs of medical treatment. It is estimated that corrective taxes, primarily on alcohol and tobacco, could raise an additional 0.6-0.7% of GDP in revenues, while improving health outcomes and cutting medical costs. An expert panel will discuss tax design, demand responses, distributional consequences, the use of corrective tax revenues, and the role of the ADB in supporting effective implementation of health taxes.
PRESENTER
- Chris Lane, Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Global Development
PANELISTS
- Arin Dutta, Senior Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank
- Jeremias Paul, Head of the Fiscal Policies for Health Unit, Health Promotion Department, World Health Organization
- Hana Ross, Principal Research Officer, Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products, University of Cape Town
- Xavier Mitchell, Director, Revenue Management Division, Cook Islands Ministry of Finance and Economic Management
MODERATORS
- Abdul Abaid, Director of Macroeconomics Research Division, ADB
- Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Macroeconomic Research Division, ADB
- Donghyun (Tom) Park, Advisor, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation, ADB