Draining the tobacco swamps: Shaping the built environment to reduce tobacco retailer proximity to residents in 30 big US cities

Combining geospatial data on residential and tobacco retailer density in 30 big US cities, we find that a large majority of urban residents live in tobacco swamps - neighborhoods where there is a glut of tobacco retailers. In this study, we simulate the effects of tobacco retail reduction policies and compare probable changes in residentto-retailer proximity and retailer density for each city. While measures of proximity and density at baseline are highly correlated, the results differ both between effects on proximity and density and across the 30 cities. Context, particularly baseline proximity of residents to retailers, is important to consider when designing policies to reduce retailer concentration.

Automated summary

The study found that the majority of urban residents in 30 large US cities live in neighborhoods with an excessive number of tobacco retailers. The effects of reducing tobacco retailers vary across cities, with the importance of baseline proximity between residents and retailers in policy design.