Assessment of the Efficiency of fixed book price policy in a digital era. Case study from the french model and comparative analyses of selected EU countries

Research Project :

The project focuses on the relevancy of goals of the fixed book price policy in a digital world. It is crucial to evaluate the need for these policy instruments while taking into account current technological developments. Book market is one of the media markets strongly affected by digitization. Digitization not only changes production and distribution channels, but also whole economic structure of the industry. There is a strong need for improving and upgrading tools in order to identify and measure impacts which have been challenged by the digital era. One of the main goals of the fixed book price policy is to protect small local bookstores from the price competition and preserve cultural diversity. However, digitization threatens the primary goal of this policy. Is it relevant to adapt fixed book price policy in a digital market? The project seeks for the answers according to the case of France, Germany, UK and Poland. Since French model is considered as one of the most successful models of the fixed book price policy, the project will analyze how the French model of fixed book price policy works, and its ways to effectiveness. Finally, comparative analysis will be made on the basis of country cases. This will allow to study whether fixed book price was successful before digitization and will make it possible to investigate further changes in the process.