positive externalities of smoking

1st of February. I have been officially one month without smoking. Well, ok ok, this sentence is not 100% true. If we take into consideration the various tentatives that I have done under the effects of some alcohol, music, and night conversations....I have smoked almost one cigarrete in total (or maybe 2, the details are not important, you have to look at the big picture). Thanks to the people who didn't allow me to go further in those dangerous 30 seconds of craving. Anyway, I am happy, I am doing this for myself and really, I feel much better. However, let me tell you that my decision of giving up smoking is not contributing at all (contrary to what you may think) to the welfare of my country and the society in general. Let me explain.

This week I read an article about a study done in the Czech Republic some years ago by a prestigeous consulting company, about the positive effects for the society in general (economic effects) that smoking has. Yes, according to the study, which you can read HERE, smoking produces what we call a positive externality for the society. In a nutshell, the fact that smokers basically die younger, together with the considerable taxes that they pay to the government during their smoking lives, more than counter the effects of helathcare costs and other annoyances that you may attribute as negative (costs) to the society. They provide numbers if you want to check it.

In conclusion, next time you see a person smoking in the street, just stop in front fo him, and with a big smile, just say....thank you smokers of the world, to make a richer and a more prosperous country to live in. Because I don't consider myself a very altruistic person by definition, I think I will continue without smoking for the moment.

PS: For the ones interested, there are some arguable things in the article of course, but that is another story ;)