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Abstract:
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Many students complain that textbooks cost too much, and some states are considering legislation to force textbook prices down. But are these concerns justified? This paper reports a survey of students in a variety of business statistics classes at two universities, asking where they got the textbook, the type of textbook (new, used, international, electronic), and how much was paid. Our data set includes computer ownership, laptop use in class, perceptions of the value of textbook CDs, and reasons why students might be willing to purchase a cheaper electronic textbook. Historic data on inflation and improving real income suggest that per-page retail textbook prices may effectively be lower than 40 years ago. Our paper discusses factors affecting today's textbook market (e.g., the resale market, internet sales, qualitative changes in textbooks, and changing student lifestyles).
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