Communities should be surrounded by conditions that enable people to live the healthiest life possible—tobacco free, access to healthy foods, and reduced exposure to harmful air pollutants. In too many places, however, this is not the case. But there are actions governments can take to create healthy communities.

In addition to traditional regulation, in a growing number of communities, the implementation of fiscal policies to reduce the negative effects of the consumption of harmful products and promote healthier behavior through subsidies for healthier products and allocation of revenues to support cessation or prevention programs is an important step in advancing public health. As these policies gain traction, the motivation to use them is expanding beyond revenue generation to public policy intervention for health and sustainability. Yet, how these fiscal policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated for effectiveness is essential to their success in achieving their desired public health and development outcomes.