Tobacco Tax Evasion in Albania

This Policy Brief is written by Development Solutions Associates (DSA) in Albania. The policy brief estimates the size and characteristics of the illicit tobacco market in Albania. The study shows that 29.3% of tobacco consumption in the country is illicit, the majority stemming from hand-rolled tobacco products. The majority of hand-rolled tobacco is purchased from an illicit sources, typically independent sellers in open-air markets. Certain demographic characteristics also make users more likely to use illicit products, such as being a male, unemployed, and living in an urban area. The policy brief makes recommendations to guide policymakers in decreasing the size of the illicit tobacco market while continuing to increase tobacco taxes and pursuing other tobacco control measures.