Analysing the Trend of Illicit Tobacco in the Philippines from 1998 to 2018

Because tobacco taxation reduces cigarette consumption (improving public health outcomes in the process) and contributes to government revenue, the presence of an illicit tobacco market diminishes the public health and fiscal gains of cigarette levies by making cheaper non-taxed cigarettes available. This study aims to contribute to research on the extent of illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines from 1998 to 2018 using gap analysis.