Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 2789-2799; doi:10.3390/ijerph7072789 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Joachim Marti Successful Smoking Cessation and Duration of Abstinence—An Analysis of Socioeconomic Determinants Institute for Research in Economics, Economics Department, University of Neuchâtel, Avenue du 1er Mars 26, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; E-Mail: joachim.marti@unine.ch; Tel.: +41-32-718-1406; Fax: +41-32-718-1401 Received: 18 May 2010; in revised form: 26 June 2010 / Accepted: 28 June 2010 / Published: 30 June 2010 Abstract: Smoking does not affect every socioeconomic subgroup of the population equally, resulting in major inequalities in terms of smoking-related morbidity and mortality. While previous studies mainly focused on inequalities in smoking prevalence, we have analysed the socioeconomic dimensions that might be associated with two other smoking-related outcomes: the odds of successfully quitting and the duration of abstinence. Using nationally representative Swiss data, we found evidence of a socioeconomic gradient in successful cessation and abstinence duration with respect to education level and income for both men and women. Keywords: socioeconomic status; inequalities; smoking cessation; abstinence; duration analysis 1. Introduction In Switzerland, we have observed a sharp decline in smoking prevalence from 33% in 1997 to 28% in 2007 (these prevalence rates refer to the proportion of smokers (regular and occasional) in the Swiss population aged 15 and over). Over the same time period, we have also noticed a 7% increase in tobacco-related mortality among women, while men experienced a 10% decrease in tobacco-related mortality. Similar figures have been reported in most developed countries and are consistent with the tobacco epidemic model proposed by Lopez et al. [1], in which the authors break down the nationwide