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Why do consumers often expect e-books to cost less than printed books?

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A person holds a Sony e-reader displaying text in front of a large illuminated sign reading e-book multiple times at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. — e-book An e-reader on display at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, 2012.

Consumers often expect e-books to cost less than printed books because the digital format eliminates the physical costs associated with traditional publishing, such as printing, binding, and distributing physical copies. As e-book production lowers barriers to entry, the industry has seen a shift in business models where the focus moves from the physical nature of the product to the curation and promotion of information.1

While consumers anticipate lower prices, this expectation creates tension within the publishing industry. Publishers must balance these consumer demands with the need to maintain established, print-based business models and address the competing interests of authors, who often expect higher royalties for digital sales. In the educational sector, this cost difference is also evident; for example, digital textbooks often offer significant savings compared to their print counterparts, with prices continuing to decline as technology becomes more accessible.12