The atlantic article "Why Are College Textbooks So Absurdly Expensive?" by Jordan Weissmann on January 3, 2013, describes the terrible rise of costly textbooks. According to "The American Enterprise Institute," college textbook prices have risen tremendously since 1978. The chart provided by Weissmann helps understand the exponential increase of college textbooks more so than healthcare, house prices, and inflation. In a recent slate piece, by Kevin Carey, he compares a student to a doctor's patient; both in the situation presented are in need of a resource that only the professor/doctor can provide. The textbook company has methods to get more money out of their buyers by "bundling textbooks with software that forces students to buy new editions
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Weissmann leaves out important details and facts that tie in with (what are other resources we could use instead of buying the textbooks? ) newer resources that will overshadow college textbooks. In fact, how would these changes come about or even get rid of textbooks some day? The main point is to help students that are trying to find better methods to get any required text instead of paying ridiculous amounts of money for textbooks. In Weissmann's point, he doesn't include the different options of getting textbooks, used textbooks, e-books, and renting required text; it isn't just based on affordability, but profitability with both sides affected for everyone to be happy. For the most, part college textbooks being expensive is an understatement (How can college textbooks be made affordable?) because they aren't so easy to make and are made with state of the art information to provide the best quality …show more content…
The major point of the textbook companies is to make money because it is an industry with an ongoing supply and demand. According to "Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?"by Priceonomics “Textbook publishers realize the largest profit margins from new editions, which come out every 2-4 years, are minimally updated, and are sold at the same price.” the plans of the textbook industry is to make sure they are making profits and make a market for people to need new content and material that only textbooks can provide. By updating small bits of information in the textbooks forcefully makes student buy new editions with hardly any changes. The obvious part about this predicament is that students often pay the price of the expensive textbooks without realizing they have better options of obtaining the same book online or renting them. According to “Why Are Textbooks So Expensive” by Priceonomics “If the impending threats of online textbook markets and open source information aren't enough to stress traditional publishers, Washington is now taking a stab at dramatically reducing book prices. The Affordable College Textbook Act filed in Congress earlier this month”. Not only are teachers and students getting involved to stop high textbook prices, but so is government to aid students against costly textbooks. In the case that students try to
Weissmann leaves out important details and facts that tie in with (what are other resources we could use instead of buying the textbooks? ) newer resources that will overshadow college textbooks. In fact, how would these changes come about or even get rid of textbooks some day? The main point is to help students that are trying to find better methods to get any required text instead of paying ridiculous amounts of money for textbooks. In Weissmann's point, he doesn't include the different options of getting textbooks, used textbooks, e-books, and renting required text; it isn't just based on affordability, but profitability with both sides affected for everyone to be happy. For the most, part college textbooks being expensive is an understatement (How can college textbooks be made affordable?) because they aren't so easy to make and are made with state of the art information to provide the best quality …show more content…
The major point of the textbook companies is to make money because it is an industry with an ongoing supply and demand. According to "Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?"by Priceonomics “Textbook publishers realize the largest profit margins from new editions, which come out every 2-4 years, are minimally updated, and are sold at the same price.” the plans of the textbook industry is to make sure they are making profits and make a market for people to need new content and material that only textbooks can provide. By updating small bits of information in the textbooks forcefully makes student buy new editions with hardly any changes. The obvious part about this predicament is that students often pay the price of the expensive textbooks without realizing they have better options of obtaining the same book online or renting them. According to “Why Are Textbooks So Expensive” by Priceonomics “If the impending threats of online textbook markets and open source information aren't enough to stress traditional publishers, Washington is now taking a stab at dramatically reducing book prices. The Affordable College Textbook Act filed in Congress earlier this month”. Not only are teachers and students getting involved to stop high textbook prices, but so is government to aid students against costly textbooks. In the case that students try to