Why Are Textbook So Expensive?
Calculus textbook, at $250 a pop. You wonder, what is going on. A lot collusion of professors and universities.
- Intro level books on calculus, physics, chemistry, used in universities, do not need to change at all, in past 30 years.
- Professors specify the exact books for their courses, so that there are basically no competition.
- Publisher send free copies to professors in hope they pick them.
- Professors don't care how much it costs, because its someone else's money.
- Publishers release new editions to prevent students buying used books from last year.
- Lots corruption in academia. publisher's new edition, usually trivially change some exercises, add politically correct fluff (such as mouthing praise of women STEM)
![calculus textbooks expensive 2016-05-11](i/calculus_text_books_expensive_2016-05-11.jpg)
for highschool books, the government buys and pays, there is no money scam phenomenon.
The calculus books above, that one by James Stewart, was in use while i was in college in 1991, and if i recall correctly, it was hellish expensive at $60. Now it's whopping $250.