Philippines Urged to Align Tobacco Taxation with Revenue-Maximizing Rate, Economist Warns

The Philippines should realign its tobacco tax rates closer to the revenue-maximizing level, as further increases could lead to greater revenue losses, according to Dr. Arthur Laffer, founder and chairman of Laffer Associates. “Doubling down with further revenue-losing tax rate increases is never a sensible solution to a tax revenue loss,” Laffer emphasized. He explained that the Philippines’ continuous tax hikes on tobacco have surpassed the revenue-maximizing point, resulting in reduced collections. The Laffer Curve and Declining Revenues Laffer, widely known for the Laffer Curve theory, pointed to the country’s declining tobacco tax revenues as evidence of the curve’s principles in action. The Laffer Curve illustrates the relationship between tax rates and revenue, where increasing tax rates initially boost revenues but, beyond a certain point, cause them to decline as the tax burden stifles consumption or drives illicit trade. Under the Tobacco Tax Law of 2019 (Republic ...