This website uses cookies.

By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.

  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
  4. November 2023
  5. Digitization and the Market for Physical Works: Evidence from the Google Books Project

American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy

ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)

Digitization and the Market for Physical Works: Evidence from the Google Books Project

  • Abhishek Nagaraj
  • Imke Reimers
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 15, no. 4, November 2023
(pp. 428–58)
Download Full Text PDF

Abstract

The free digital distribution of creative works could cannibalize demand for physical versions, but it could also boost physical sales by enabling consumers to discover the original work. We study the impact of the Google Books digitization project on the market for physical books. We find that digitization significantly boosts the demand for physical versions and provide evidence for the discovery channel. Moreover, digitization allows independent publishers to introduce new editions for existing books, further increasing sales. Our results highlight the potential of free digital distribution to strengthen the demand for and supply of physical products.

Citation

Nagaraj, Abhishek, and Imke Reimers. 2023. "Digitization and the Market for Physical Works: Evidence from the Google Books Project." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 15 (4): 428–58. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20210702

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • D12 Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
  • L82 Entertainment; Media
  • L86 Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
There are no comments for this article.
Login to Comment