Revolutions in Book Publishing ─ The Effects of Digital Innovation on the Industry

Not since Gutenberg printed his first Bible has the book industry undergone such rapid and widespread change. The advent of digital media and firms' willingness to create, adopt and apply new technologies has had a major impact on the industry, yet the data that drive the industry remain sparse. In this book, Szenberg and Ramrattan analyze the latest effects of technological innovations on the industry as well as their influence on distribution channels, market structure, and conduct of the industry.

Through empirical analysis, this book documents the changes that have wrought such intense transformation on the book industry and brought it to its current, critical point. Case studies on brick-and-mortar stores as well as online booksellers provide a comprehensive look at where the industry's been and where it's headed. With few books addressing the publishing business at all, Revolutions in Book Publishing fills a gap in the literature for scholars and students of industry studies and advances the research on a unique and evolving industry from a historical and critical perspective.

Michael Szenberg is Distinguished Professor of Economics and Business at Touro College, USA. A renowned economist, Dr. Szenberg has authored and edited 20 books, more than 50 journal articles, 19 book chapters and 28 encyclopedia entries. His most recent books include 'Economic Ironies Throughout History' (Palgrave Macmillan), 'Eminent Economists II, Their Life and Work Philosophies' and 'Secrets of Economics Editors', all co-edited with Lall Ramrattan.

Lall Ramrattan is Instructor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. He has served as Associate Editor of The American Economist and has published widely in major academic journals. He has edited numerous books with Michael Szenberg including 'Economic Ironies Throughout History' (Palgrave Macmillan), 'Eminent Economists II, Their Life and Work Philosophies' and 'Secrets of Economics Editors'.