ABSTRACT: This work is a part of a broader research agenda to explore the use of genetic data to understand why some polices work on some people and not others. In the paper, I use nationally representative data and across-state differences in tobacco tax rates to explore whether this policy "environment" interacts with variants in two nicotinic receptor genes to predict tobacco use in adults. I find substantial differences in policy responses based on genotype, which has implications for policy evaluation and in extending the gene-environment empirical framework.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A specialist in health economics, economics of education and child and adolescent health policy, Professor Fletcher focuses his research on examining social network effects on adolescent education and health outcomes, combining genetics and social science research, estimating long-term consequences of childhood mental illness, and child and adolescent mental health policy. In 2012 he was selected for a career development award by the William T. Grant Foundation. That award is funding a study of the interplay between genetics and social settings in youth development.