Corné van Walbeek is currently a Professor at the School of Economics, and the Director of REEP, at the University of Cape Town. His research interests are primarily in the economics of tobacco control, and how changes in the excise tax on tobacco products can affect cigarette consumption. Within this field, his research has focused on the estimation of price elasticities of demand, how excise tax increases impact the poor, changes in smoking by different demographic groups over time, and the industry’s reaction to changes in the tobacco excise tax. Furthermore, he has consulted the government in Jamaica and research groups in East Africa about tobacco control.