Research on the Economics of Excisable Products
The Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products (REEP) is an accredited research unit within UCT’s School of Economics, under the directorship of Prof. Corné van Walbeek. The unit focuses its research on economic aspects related to a variety of excisable products, specifically tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages. While we are not a lobby group, our focus is on public health. Our motto is “Supporting public health through rigorous and objective research”.
Our focus to date has primarily been on tobacco. The Economics of Tobacco Control Programme (ETCP) is likely to remain the dominant focus in years to come. The ETCP aims to expand current research efforts in the economics of tobacco control, and to enhance the knowledge of economic and tax issues among tobacco control advocates and policymakers, to strengthen support for tobacco tax and price increases in low- and middle-income countries. Closely associated with the ETCP is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Knowledge Hub on Tobacco Taxation and Illicit Trade. Whereas the ETCP has a strong academic focus, the primary focus of the Knowledge Hub is on dissemination and policy support. The two units have a strong symbiotic relationship. The ETCP creates the necessary credibility, while the Knowledge Hub makes the work relevant for policy implementation.