Tobacco.org

Smoking costs hit Austrian economy  

Austria's economy is burdened by additional costs of 511 million euros ($A864.64 million), or 0.23 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product, per year due to smoking, according to a study just released.

If losses in productivity arising from smoking - including health care costs, or early retirement or death because of smoking-related illnesses - were deducted from the income generated by tobacco taxes, the negative economic effects were obvious, the Institute for Higher Studies said.

They compared the real costs and benefits with costs occurring in a hypothetical non-smoking society.

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