Textbooks are too expensive

Ridiculously high textbook prices have burdened college students for years, and Congress is finally trying to help. The House Education and Labor Committee has proposed a bill that would require publishers to sell unbundled books and colleges to inform students about required reading before classes start.

The average student pays about $900 for textbooks each year. Adding to the problem is the fact that many books are bundled with workbooks, answer keys, and CD-roms, which add significantly to the price of the book but often go unused. Additionally, in my experience at least, many professors release their syllabi on the first day of class. As a result, students are forced to buy their books from overpriced campus bookstores, since books ordered online won't arrive in time.

I personally support government-mandated price ceilings on books. The marginal cost of a book is under a dollar. Plus, because you need textbooks to take courses, the demand for textbooks is inelastic. Therefore publishers are able to rip students off. There is no reason why a hardback book should cost over $25 and no reason why a paperback book should cost over $10.

But, Congress's bill is a good start. Anything that will enable students to pay less for textbooks is welcome by me. There is no reason why professors can't figure out and release their syllabi sooner and no reason why publishers should force people to buy products they don't want or need.

Source: The Crimson