College Text Rally

The high cost's of college text books is starting to get some press. Makes sense, as college tuitions continue to rise (maybe past their value), all expenses are going to come under fire.

Now having not one, not two, but three degrees (AA, BS, MBA-Suck on that Albert Einstein with your puny two degrees, and neither of them even American. Your not a "genius" until your an American Certified Genius Al), I'm somewhat of an expert on college matters. Some of this is just economics, not a lot of demand, so each book is expensive to make. Not only that but demand is forced and the demander isn't constrained by cost. A Professor can dictate to the class what books to buy without feeling the pain themselves. Which is why many books are bought and little used in class (man that used to tick me off). Students do have options though. You can buy used, or do like I did which is borrow heavily from other classmates and read their books, or, if I'm being honest, not buy the book and fake it (this works better in the "soft" sciences, Poly Sci for example where most of the exam comes from lectures), and I also dipped into the "black market," where you bought the book of another student directly, bypassing the bookstore. Always like to stick it to the man.

However, most of these "options" come about later in your school career, Freshmen take the economic hit squarely on the chin.

But I also don't think that regulation is the answer. Of the ideas discussed in the article, the ones I liked best were

• give students itemized cost information before they register for a class (Personal fave. Most market orientated as it gives the student the full cost up front, and puts pressure on the professor to bring down costs. Always a fan of public disclosure and information)
  
• require that bundled material also be available as individual pieces. (Another solid market approach)
  
• school-run book-rental services as a cheaper alternative (I'd prefer the private market handle this, but its a start)
• And of course, doing away with sales taxes on textbooks

In any case, books are the least of the issue when it comes to higher education. However, I like anything that brings the market closer to college. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that some states will enact "caps" or other mechanical means of bringing down prices which will only increase cost in states that don't, which means the Feds will eventually get involved, which means I'll have to write another post on this topic, "College Text Rally II, this time is educational!"