The Economics of Books

Frederick (Rick) van der Ploeg, Jan C. van Ours and Marcel Canoy

No 4892, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The tensions between books and book markets as expressions of culture and books as products in profit-making businesses are analysed and insights from the theory of industrial organisation are given. Governments intervene in the market for books through laws concerning prices of books, grants for authors and publishers, a lower value-added tax, public libraries and education in order to stimulate the diversity of books on offer, increase the density of retail outlets and to promote reading. An overview of the different ways by which countries differ in terms of market structures and government policies is given. Particular attention is paid to retail price maintenance. Due to differences between European countries it is not a good idea to harmonise European book policies. Our analysis suggests that the book market seems quite able to invent solutions to specific problems of the book trade and that, apart from promoting reading, there is little need for government intervention.

Keywords: Books; Publishers; Authors; Diversity; Monopolistic competition; Retail price maintenance; Subsidies; Libraries; Internet (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D40 D60 L10 L40 Z11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cul, nep-edu and nep-mic
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Related works:
Chapter: The Economics of Books (2006)
Working Paper: The Economics of Books (2005)
Working Paper: The Economics of Books (2005)
Working Paper: The Economics of Books (2005)
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