Do tobacco 21 laws work?

Tobacco 21 (T-21) laws raise the minimum legal purchasing age for all tobacco products to 21. This study is the first to examine the impact of statewide T21 laws on teenage and young adult cigarette and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and a difference-in-differences approach, we find that statewide adoption of a T-21 law is associated with a 2-to-4 percentage-point decline in smoking participation among 18-to-20-year-olds.

Political violence, risk aversion, and population health: Evidence from the US Capitol riot.

Unlabelled: This study is the first to explore the impact of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot on risk avoidance behavior and the spread of COVID-19. First, using anonymized smartphone data from SafeGraph, Inc., and an event-study approach, we document a substantial increase on January 6 in non-resident smartphone pings at the sites of the protest: the Ellipse, the National Mall, and the US Capitol Building.

Risk avoidance, offsetting community effects, and COVID-19: Evidence from an indoor political rally.

Unlabelled: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deem large indoor gatherings without social distancing the "highest risk" activity for COVID-19 contagion. On June 20, 2020, President Donald J. Trump held his first mass campaign rally following the US coronavirus outbreak at the indoor Bank of Oklahoma arena.

The contagion externality of a superspreading event: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19.

Large in-person gatherings of travelers who do not socially distance are classified as the "highest risk" for COVID-19 spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From August 7-16, 2020, nearly 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts converged on Sturgis, South Dakota for its annual rally in an environment without mask-wearing requirements or other mitigating policies. This study is the first to explore this event's public health impacts.