This journal article dives into the costs of producing college level text books to decide if they're adequately and reasonably. Publishers clam that one of the largest factors in higher book prices is the sale of used books by the school book stores, used book dealers, and students. The publisher loses money overtime as their books are resold and not new copies being purchased. This works out for the student in the short-term but in the end increases overall book prices as the publisher will raise prices to make up for that loss. College books are often less expensive overseas, publishers defend this practice for the reasoning that they would not be able to sell any books overseas in poorer countries if they did not adapt to the local market.
