In this paper, it is argued that the college textbook market provides a clear example of monopoly seeking as described by Tullock (1967, 1980). This behavior is also known as rent seeking. Since this market is important to students, this example of rent seeking will be of particular interest to them

Individuals engaged in rent seeking accumulate sector specific human capital through learning-by-doing. If agents specialize, small reforms of the trade regime may fail to reduce the level of the rent-seeking activity. The size of the reform necessary to induce movement out of rent seeking is...