Assignment:
Blanca,
Please see my research for the paper and let me know what additional information you will need. I focused mainly on the reasons behind the high cost of textbooks.
In 2011 and 2012 "students paid, on average, $1,168 for textbooks and supplies (Jones 66)". According to a survey of students at Daytona State college 29% reported they "did not purchase a required textbook at least once due to cost, 24% blamed textbook prices for taking fewer credit hours, and 15 % said that textbook expenses was an influence of their choice of major (Jones 66)". The percentage of students influenced by costs of textbooks is alarming. This is something that needs to be looked over and carefully reconsidered so that students are not struggling due to financial reasons for textbooks. All of this data collected is in addition to escalating tuition costs.
Students bear the financial burden of the high cost of textbooks every semester. According to research, " A 2005 General Accounting Office report found that textbook prices had increased 186% between 1986 and 2004 while general inflation had risen only 72% (Jones 67)". The primary reason for the increase of textbooks was the result of "increasing demand for products that company the textbooks such as CD-ROM's, web-based tutorials, self-assessment tools, videos, etc. (Jones 67)". Research also concluded that the "more frequent revision cycle for textbooks has...contributed to increased costs (Jones 67). It has been shown that "after the first year of publication, the secondary market of used textbooks flood sales outlets with enough used copies to significantly affect the sale of new editions...[therefore] publishers make no money on the sale of used textbooks [so] they will print a new edition and discontinue the sales of the previous edition (Jones 67)."
Although many bookstores offer a buy-back program, "unfortunately textbooks depreciate at an alarming rate (Jones 67)". Therefore after a typical semester, which is approximately 125 days, the price of the textbooks will have decreased by about 50 percent or more depending on the condition of the textbooks.
Jones, B. J., & Jackson, K. L. (2012). Reducing Textbook Costs: An Unconventional Approach. Business Education Innovation Journal, 4(2), 66-72.