<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Dish]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://dish.andrewsullivan.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Andrew Sullivan]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/author/sullydish/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[A Black Market For Black&nbsp;Lungs]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Keith Humphreys <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/25/why-the-massive-black-market-trade-in-cigarettes-affects-you-even-if-you-dont-smoke/">checks in on</a> shady trading practices for cigarettes:</p>
<blockquote><p>The global black market in tobacco is estimated <a href="http://global.tobaccofreekids.org/files/pdfs/en/ILL_global_cig_trade_full_en.pdf" target="_blank">to supply 11.6% of the world’s consumption, a startling 650 billion cigarettes a year</a>. And there are two components to this market that have drawn the particular scrutiny of law enforcement: fake cigarettes and tax avoidance. The reason why fake cigarettes are big business will be obvious to anyone who tunes in to <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/mad-men" target="_blank">Mad Men</a>. Cigarettes have arguably been marketed internationally <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Golden_Holocaust.html?id=lk37egfoiBoC" target="_blank">more effectively than any other American product</a>.  The resulting worldwide recognition of the Marlboro Man, Joe Camel et al. means that hundreds of millions of smokers are willing to pay a premium for famous Western brands. This has created a lucrative opportunity for criminals – <a href="http://icj.sagepub.com/content/22/1/43.short?rss=1&amp;ssource=mfr" target="_blank">overwhelmingly based in China — to repackage over 100 billion cheap cigarettes a year as marquee Western brands</a>. While not enthusiastic about the amount of revenue being generated by fake cigarettes, U.S. policymakers have been even more concerned about smugglers avoiding taxes for selling genuine cigarettes.</p></blockquote>
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