The effects of smoking restrictions on class attendance and life satisfaction: evidence from a Turkish University

Abstract

We investigate the effect of smoking regulations on a university campus regarding attendance frequency, life satisfaction, and campus satisfaction among university students. A private university in Turkey implemented a campus-wide smoke-free policy, which prohibited smoking on campus except in designated areas at least 150 meters from faculty buildings. In our theoretical framework, we analyze a simple game for smoker and nonsmoker students with different types. In order to analyze the testable implications, we conducted an online survey with retrospective questions to third and fourth-year students. 406 students responded to our survey. In the empirical methodology, we model attendance frequency as a function of various factors, including individual fixed effects driven by intrinsic motivation for attendance, faculty fixed effects affected by faculty-related attendance policies, a time effect that may impact attendance trends, and a heterogeneous policy effect based on time and distance to smoking areas. As an alternative approach to the first one, instead of modelling individual fixed effects and adjusting for them through first differencing, we employ a difference-in-differences model. Our findings indicate that attendance increased and the smoking intensity among students decreased after the implementation of the policy for smoker students. Remarkably, the results obtained through the alternative approach align with those of the primary methodology. Also, the findings are consistent with the theoretical framework. JEL Classification: I1, I23, I28, I31.