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>Why in the world does a book on Biology sell for $152? In addition to the changes in pedagogical approaches that lead to (if not require) constant changes, th

by rflrob 15y ago

>Why in the world does a book on Biology sell for $152? In addition to the changes in pedagogical approaches that lead to (if not require) constant changes, there's the fact that what we know about the fundamentals of biology is constantly being revised as we learn more. When I was in high school, we didn't yet know the archaea were a totally separate kingdom, and we hadn't yet sequenced anything more than a single celled organisms. When you add in the fact that different states will have different guidelines as to what needs to go into a textbook, guidelines that are likely lengthy, dense, and opaque, I'm not surprised that some subjects do have very expensive textbooks. Are they too expensive? Probably, but not by as much as one might be tempted to think.

mattdeboard 15y ago
You didn't actually answer the question about why a book on biology sells for $152. So, what does scientific progress have to do with the cost of a book written by a publisher who had nothing to do with the scientific advances?
- DanBC 15y ago
  Small print runs and changing content each year. Textbooks also have better quality paper than pulp best sellers.
  - mattdeboard 15y ago
    Then where are the lower cost competitors selling on lower-quality paper, competing on cost? Still, the question remains unanswered. The real answer is there are no market forces lowering the costs of textbooks.
- zzleeper 15y ago
  Because the guy making the decision (the professor) doesn't pay the cost of that decision. Publishers give the professors free books, and court with them (like big pharma courts doctors) to convince them to use it. There are other reasons, like the big advantage that inertia gives you: once your book gets established as the best book in one field, at say $40, you increase the price to $150 b/c the professors already know the book, so there is a big switching cost (for them). What actually baffles me is why people think this would NOT happen. Align the professor's incentives, and you'll start seeing some change.
  - dubya 15y ago
    Here in Tennessee, profs have to sign a form when they pick a textbook stating the cost. Unfortunately the deadline for picking books is about five months before the class, so some crappy, expensive books stick around because the time near the deadline is too busy to consider alternatives. Free books will only get you on the list for consideration.

by rflrob 15y ago

mattdeboard 15y ago

You didn't actually answer the question about why a book on biology sells for $152. So, what does scientific progress have to do with the cost of a book written by a publisher who had nothing to do with the scientific advances?

DanBC 15y ago
Small print runs and changing content each year. Textbooks also have better quality paper than pulp best sellers.
- mattdeboard 15y ago
  Then where are the lower cost competitors selling on lower-quality paper, competing on cost? Still, the question remains unanswered. The real answer is there are no market forces lowering the costs of textbooks.
zzleeper 15y ago
Because the guy making the decision (the professor) doesn't pay the cost of that decision. Publishers give the professors free books, and court with them (like big pharma courts doctors) to convince them to use it. There are other reasons, like the big advantage that inertia gives you: once your book gets established as the best book in one field, at say $40, you increase the price to $150 b/c the professors already know the book, so there is a big switching cost (for them). What actually baffles me is why people think this would NOT happen. Align the professor's incentives, and you'll start seeing some change.
- dubya 15y ago
  Here in Tennessee, profs have to sign a form when they pick a textbook stating the cost. Unfortunately the deadline for picking books is about five months before the class, so some crappy, expensive books stick around because the time near the deadline is too busy to consider alternatives. Free books will only get you on the list for consideration.