PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Open-system electronic cigarette (EC) product features, such as battery capacity, maximum output wattage, and so forth, are major components that drive product costs and may influence use patterns. Moreover, continued innovation and monitoring of product features and prices will provide critical information for designing appropriate taxation policies and product regulations.
OBJECTIVE: This study will examine how product features are associated with the prices of devices sold in web-based vape shops.
METHODS: We draw samples from 5 popular, US-based, web-based vape shops from April to August 2022 to examine starter kits, device-only products, and e-liquid container-only products. We implemented a linear regression model with a store-fixed effect to examine the association between device attributes and prices.
RESULTS: EC starter kits or devices vary significantly by type, with mod prices being much higher than pod and vape pen prices. The prices of mod starter kits were even lower than those of mod devices, suggesting that mod starter kits are discounted in web-based vape shops. The price of mod kits, mod device-only products, and pod kits increased as the battery capacity and output wattage increased. For vape pens, the price was positively associated with the volume size of the e-liquid container. On the other hand, the price of pod kits was positively associated with the number of containers.
CONCLUSIONS: A unit-based specific tax, therefore, will impose a higher tax burden on lower-priced devices such as vape pens or pod systems and a lower tax burden on mod devices. A volume- or capacity-based specific tax on devices will impose a higher tax burden on vape pens with a larger container size. Meanwhile, ad valorem taxes pegged to wholesale or retail prices would apply evenly across device types, meaning those with advanced features such as higher battery capacities and output wattage would face higher rates. Therefore, policy makers could manipulate tax rates by device type to discourage the use of certain device products.
OBJECTIVE: This study will examine how product features are associated with the prices of devices sold in web-based vape shops.
METHODS: We draw samples from 5 popular, US-based, web-based vape shops from April to August 2022 to examine starter kits, device-only products, and e-liquid container-only products. We implemented a linear regression model with a store-fixed effect to examine the association between device attributes and prices.
RESULTS: EC starter kits or devices vary significantly by type, with mod prices being much higher than pod and vape pen prices. The prices of mod starter kits were even lower than those of mod devices, suggesting that mod starter kits are discounted in web-based vape shops. The price of mod kits, mod device-only products, and pod kits increased as the battery capacity and output wattage increased. For vape pens, the price was positively associated with the volume size of the e-liquid container. On the other hand, the price of pod kits was positively associated with the number of containers.
CONCLUSIONS: A unit-based specific tax, therefore, will impose a higher tax burden on lower-priced devices such as vape pens or pod systems and a lower tax burden on mod devices. A volume- or capacity-based specific tax on devices will impose a higher tax burden on vape pens with a larger container size. Meanwhile, ad valorem taxes pegged to wholesale or retail prices would apply evenly across device types, meaning those with advanced features such as higher battery capacities and output wattage would face higher rates. Therefore, policy makers could manipulate tax rates by device type to discourage the use of certain device products.
摘要：
背景：开放系统电子烟（EC）产品功能，如电池容量，最大输出瓦数,等等，是推动产品成本并可能影响使用模式的主要组件。此外，对产品功能和价格的持续创新和监控将为设计适当的税收政策和产品法规提供关键信息。
目的：本研究将研究产品功能如何与基于网络的vape商店中出售的设备的价格相关联。
方法：我们从5个受欢迎的，以美国为基础，2022年4月至8月的基于网络的vape商店检查入门套件，仅限设备的产品，和电子液体容器的产品。我们实现了具有固定存储效应的线性回归模型，以检查设备属性和价格之间的关联。
结果：EC入门套件或设备因类型而异，MOD的价格远远高于POD和VAPE笔的价格。mod入门套件的价格甚至低于mod设备的价格，这表明mod入门套件在基于网络的vape商店中打折。MOD套件的价格，仅限mod设备的产品，和pod套件随着电池容量和输出功率的增加而增加。对于vape笔，价格与电子液体容器的体积大小呈正相关。另一方面,pod套件的价格与容器数量呈正相关。
结论：以单位为基础的特定税，因此,将对vape笔或pod系统等低价设备征收更高的税收负担，并对mod设备征收更低的税收负担。对设备征收基于容量或容量的特定税将对容器尺寸较大的vape笔征收更高的税收负担。同时,与批发或零售价格挂钩的从价税将均匀适用于不同类型的设备，这意味着那些具有更高的电池容量和输出瓦数等高级功能的人将面临更高的费率。因此,政策制定者可以按设备类型操纵税率，以阻止某些设备产品的使用。
目的：本研究将研究产品功能如何与基于网络的vape商店中出售的设备的价格相关联。
方法：我们从5个受欢迎的，以美国为基础，2022年4月至8月的基于网络的vape商店检查入门套件，仅限设备的产品，和电子液体容器的产品。我们实现了具有固定存储效应的线性回归模型，以检查设备属性和价格之间的关联。
结果：EC入门套件或设备因类型而异，MOD的价格远远高于POD和VAPE笔的价格。mod入门套件的价格甚至低于mod设备的价格，这表明mod入门套件在基于网络的vape商店中打折。MOD套件的价格，仅限mod设备的产品，和pod套件随着电池容量和输出功率的增加而增加。对于vape笔，价格与电子液体容器的体积大小呈正相关。另一方面,pod套件的价格与容器数量呈正相关。
结论：以单位为基础的特定税，因此,将对vape笔或pod系统等低价设备征收更高的税收负担，并对mod设备征收更低的税收负担。对设备征收基于容量或容量的特定税将对容器尺寸较大的vape笔征收更高的税收负担。同时,与批发或零售价格挂钩的从价税将均匀适用于不同类型的设备，这意味着那些具有更高的电池容量和输出瓦数等高级功能的人将面临更高的费率。因此,政策制定者可以按设备类型操纵税率，以阻止某些设备产品的使用。
