Economy

CSEC Economics School Based Assessment

An Economic Analysis on the Factors Which Influences Smoking in the
Community of Golden Spring, St. Andrew

Topic: Demerit Good

Name of Candidate: Renae Bennett
Candidate’s number:
Centre number: 100049
School: Holy Childhood High
Teacher: Mrs. Henry-Fagan
Teritory: Jamaica
Year of Examination: May/June 2013 Examination

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Acknowledgement
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Firstly the researcher would like to thank her teacher for the assistance along the way for the completion of this research. She also is grateful for the provision of the necessary stationeries needed.
This research would have been impossible without the help of God for providing me with the strength, endurance and knowledge needed.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Aims and Objectives 1
Methodology Employed 2
Introduction 3

Presentation of Data 4-5
Analysis and Interpretation
Causes 6-7
Effects 8
Solutions 9
Recommendations 10
Conclusion 11
Appendix
Questionnaires 12-13
Bibliography 14

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Aims and Objectives

Aims 1. To describe the factors which lead to smoking in the community of Golden Spring. 2. To bring to ‘fore’ effects relating to the use of the demerit good, tobacco. 3. To outline the different types of tobacco.

Objectives 1. To assess solutions which can be brought forward by the government to reduce the issue of the high consumption of smoking substances and the purchase of it.

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Methodology Employed

The methodologies employed in doing this research are questionnaires, books and the internet.

According to Sandy and Grayson (2000), a questionnaire is a sheet of paper with designed questions given to respondents in order to receive relevant data for a research. The questions are standardized; however it is difficult to assess the motivation of respondents through this method.

The reasons for choosing this method are: * It requires little time to be complete * It guarantees confidentiality since respondents are not required to write their names on the questionnaire. It therefore guarantees anonymity * It is inexpensive * Allows for easy collation of data

Questionnaire

Please place a tick in the box or write on the line provided.

1. Gender
□Male □Female

2. Age
□10-14 □15-19 □20-24 □25-29 □30-34

3. Do you smoke? □Yes □No

4. What age did you start smoking?
□10-14 □15-19 □20-24 □25-29 □30-34

5. Why did you start to smoke?
□Peer pressure □To relax/meditate
□Stress Other _______________________
□Depression

6. What do you smoke?
□Beady □Marijuana
□Craven A Other _______________________
□Matterhorn

7. How often do you purchase this substance?
□Daily
□Weekly
□Monthly

8. Do you smoke in public?
□Yes □No

9. How do you feel about people smoking in public?
___________________________________________________________________________
10. Do you think smoking has any effect on second-hand smokers?
□Yes □No

11. How do you feel when you smoke? __________________________________________________________________________

12. How often do you smoke?
□1-2 times daily □Weekly Other ____________________
□3-4 times daily □Monthly
□5-6 times daily □Only when stressed/depressed

13. Do you find smoking expensive?
□Yes □No

14. Do you work?
□Yes □No

15. If NO, how do you sustain your smoking habits?
___________________________________________________________________________

16. Are you aware of the long term effects caused by smoking?
□Yes □No

17. If YES, why do you continue to smoke?
___________________________________________________________________________

18. Do you plan to quit smoking?
□Yes □No

19. If No, Why not? ___________________________________________________________________________

20. Do you think smoking should be banned in public?
□Yes □No

21. State Why or Why Not.
___________________________________________________________________________

22. What are some possible solutions do you think can minimize this issue of smoking?
___________________________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------- Introduction

The research focuses on the issue of smoking which affects the members of the community of Golden Spring. According to Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine (2003) smoking is the act of drawing into the mouth smoke and puffing out smoke of burning tobacco contained in cigarette, cigar or pipe.

The community of Golden Spring is located in West Rural St. Andrew. Majority of the population is made up of children. In this community it is find that most people engage in the act of smoking for different reasons, whether they smoke privately or publicly. However, most residents are low income earners but the purchasing of the demerit good tobacco is still high.

One of several types of smoking is ‘Passive Smoking’, Betra, V. A. Patkar ‘The Genetic Determinants of Smoking’ (2003) states that this refers to second hand smoke that is inhaled by another person. Another is side stream smoking. Jarvis (2003) defines passive smoke as the smoke that is emitted from the burning end of the cigarette, or cigar, or that comes from the end of a pipe.

The research also speaks to the factors which influence smoking, such as being stressed, depressed, the need to relax/meditate or peer pressure. It also entails how it is that smokers and non-smokers are affected by smoking and solutions that can help to diminish the vast problem of smoking in the George Mason Drive community.
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Presentation of Data

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

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Analysis and Interpretation of Data

What are the factors which influences smoking in the community of Golden Spring?

According to Abel (2012) Smoking is defined as the inhalation of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes and cigars.

There are several factors that influence smoking in the community of Golden Spring. Some of them include peer pressure, stress, depression or to help in meditation / relaxation process. This can be seen in Fig. 1.

Yochum (1999) define the terms peer pressure, stress. Depression, relaxation and meditation as followed.

The term peer pressure is often used to describe instances where and individual feels indirectly pressured into changing their behavior to match that of their peers. The research shows that a
25% of respondents were influenced by their peers.

Stress typically describes a negative condition that can have an impact on one’s physical well-being, but it is unclear what exactly defines stress and whether or not stress is a cause, an effect, or the process connecting the two. 35% of smoking was due to stress.
Depression may be defined as a state of low mood and aversion to activity. 20% of persons who answered the questionnaire said being depressed caused them to start to smoke.

Relaxation is the release of tension, a return to equilibrium.
Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or as an end in itself. 20% of respondents smoke to relax/meditate.

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Effects relating to the use of smoking

There are many effects of smoking. Persons are affected by the use of this demerit good in numerous ways, some of which include: death, premature ageing and skin wrinkling.

Respondents state that they were aware of the deadly effects caused by smoking. However, they continue to smoke as they believe it can never happen to them. Figure 2 shows that an alarming 95% of individuals are alert of the harmful effects due to smoking and a diminutive 5% are unaware.

Smoking is recognized as a leading preventable cause of death. Anyone with a smoking habit has increased chance of lung, cervical and other types of cancer, respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries). This research has shown that although 95% of individuals are aware of the deadly effects they still continue to smoke.

Smoking has been shown scientifically to double the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer. The more one smoke the greater is the risk of premature ageing. In fact, one study showed that smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day can age the skin by almost 10 years! It is seen in figure 3 that 20% of respondents claim they smoke 1-2 times daily, a startling 40%; 3-4 times daily, 20%; 5-6 times daily, 6% weekly, an insignificant 1%; monthly and 12% said they smoke only when stressed or depressed.
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Solutions which can be brought forward by the government to reduce the issue of the high consumption of smoking substances and the purchase of it

Several solutions may be brought forward by the government to reduce smoking. Some solutions to minimize the level of smoking are to ban smoking in public, impose high tax rates on demerit goods and to educate smokers on health risks.

The government should ban smoking in public as second-hand smoke kills. We should not allow people who smoke to put our lives and those of children at risk. In figure 4 it is shown that a stunning 97% of respondents claim they smoke in public. Non-smokers have a right to be protected from the harmful effects of smoking. Children who are exposed to smoking are at a greater risk of developing asthma, lung problems, bronchitis, middle ear infection and are likely to be absent from school more often than other children because of health-related problems. Model programmes should be implemented to help persons to quit smoking.

Smokers can consult their doctors and other health-care workers for more information about quitting smoking. Dermatologists can also help treat skin conditions caused by smoking. However, as the saying goes, ‘Prevention is Better Than Cure’.

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Conclusion

From doing this research several things can be concluded.

The addictive nature of smoking can make it difficult for individuals to quit, even though they are aware of link to diseases. Seven respondents believe that they would not happen to them. That is their opinion as the fact still remains that ‘Smoking Kills’.

Persons are aware of the deadly effects of smoking and as well as passive smoking. If you are regularly around people who smoke, you are exposed to passive smoking and all the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. Persons who do not smoke should have the opportunity to live a healthy life.

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Recommendations

The research shows that smokers smoke because they are stress a therapy sessions could help them feel less stressed / depressed. All smokers should seek help, but if they are unable to quit, smoking I a private area such a garden may be a better option. Non-smokers should avoid being around smokers, when they are smoking. This will reduce their risk of life threatening diseases such as cancer. There should be a ban on smoking in public places such as schools, hospitals and workplaces. This is associated with a reduction in the health risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke.

High tax rate can be imposed on these demerit goods. Persons will then purchase less as we, the economy are in a financially disabled position. We are now in a recession individuals can not afford basic amenities; therefore it will be more difficult for them to purchase demerit goods.

Educational programs have the underlying intent of encouraging hope and opening up opportunities for young people. Smokers should be educated on the effects that smoking have on them and others. Model programmes should be implemented to help persons to quit smoking

“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”

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Bibliography

(Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, 2003)
(Betra, 2003)
(Abel, 2012)

Bibliography: (Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, 2003) (Betra, 2003) (Abel, 2012)