Taxarea excesivă a țigaretelor, corelată cu creșterea comerțului ilicit și pierderi la buget. Studiu Oxford • Newsweek România

A recent study by Oxford Economics highlights a strong correlation between high tobacco taxes and the growth of illicit markets. The report indicates that over 75% of the retail price of legal cigarettes in the analyzed countries is made up of taxes, leading to a significant price gap with illicit products. In Romania, illicit tobacco trade reached a record 13.9% of the market, resulting in an estimated annual loss of 500 million euros in tax revenue. The study emphasizes the need for balanced fiscal policies and strict law enforcement to combat the rising illicit trade. It warns that once established, illicit markets are difficult to dismantle, affecting public safety and government revenues.