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)

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.