New Zealand Institute for the study of competition and regulation inc.

The 2008 recipient of the ST Lee Fellowship at Victoria University of Wellington is Dr. Donald Kenkel, a Professor at Cornell University's department of Policy Analysis and Management in Ithaca, NY, USA.

Dr. Kenkel's expertise is in the areas of health and public sector economics. His research is on the economics of disease prevention and health promotion. He is the author of the chapter on "Prevention" in the Handbook of Health Economics (2000). Donald has conducted a series of studies on the economics of public health policies, including: alcohol taxes to prevent alcohol problems (American Economic Review Papers & Proceedings 2005); and cigarette taxes to prevent youth smoking (Journal of Political Economy 2002).

Don is part of a team of researchers at Cornell University funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study the role of advertising and smoking cessation. This group has recently published research suggesting that direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical smoking cessation aids help prompt smokers to quit (Journal of Political Economy 2007). While visiting Victoria University of Wellington Professor Kenkel will be furthering his research in the area of direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals in New Zealand and the United States. Dr. Kenkel notes:

"The policy is controversial in both countries. Proponents argue that the advertisements are a useful source of consumer information that can prompt discussion with physicians and improve compliance with treatment plans. Opponents are concerned that the advertisements may encourage inappropriate prescription drug use and interfere with the physician-patient relationship. An additional concern is that the advertisements misrepresent the benefits of a product and downplay the risks."

Donald's goal is to conduct research that sheds light on some of the tradeoffs involved in regulating pharmaceutical advertising.

Donald Kenkel will be visiting ISCR from June 3 to 26 July 2008. He will be located at Rutherford House room 1215 and can be contacted at dsk10@cornell.edu