Frank Chaloupka

Frank Chaloupka (Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin/University of Illinois Chicago)

Health economist Frank Chaloupka studies the ways that local, state and national policies affect smoking, substance abuse and other unhealthy behaviors.

Chaloupka’s work challenged the idea that many smokers are so dependent on nicotine, price changes will not affect smoking rates. Instead, he discovered that increases in cigarette prices — including tax hikes — lead to significant reductions in consumption and smoking.

Chaloupka’s research has been cited by the Office of the Surgeon General and has led to many substance abuse policy initiatives.