Analysis of Factors Affecting Digital Textbook Pricing in Korea

Abstract

The use of paper books for teaching and learning has many limitations in terms of cost and efficiency. The advantages of digital textbooks are emphasized in many studies. Researchers say that the use of digital textbooks as mediators of the 21st century provides the ability to solve a variety of educational and learning problems for the future. However, many stakeholders in education, such as teachers, students, parents, publishers and educators, are not prepared to accept it and infrastructure is incomplete. In Korea, digital textbooks are used in classrooms in 2018. Publishers are creating new digital textbooks containing sophisticated digital content in accordance with government guidelines, teachers want to create customized lessons for each student level, and profitability and market expectations are changing the importance of digital asset pricing in the textbook market. In this paper, we explore factors that affect digital textbook pricing, to help publishers maximize revenue over their product lifecycle.