Nearly 30% discount on each book causes textbook prices to increase

On the afternoon of June 19, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law on Prices (amended) with 92.91% of delegates in favor. This amended Law on Prices only stipulates the ceiling price of textbooks, not the floor price, in order to stabilize the market, create healthy competition and protect the interests of consumers.

Explaining the above regulation, Mr. Le Quang Manh, Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, said that in the old Price Law, textbooks were not a commodity whose price was determined by the State. However, from the 14th National Assembly to the present, many delegates have suggested that the State should control the price of this commodity to protect the interests of the people and avoid the impact of price increases from publishers.

Mr. Manh raised two reasons why the National Assembly Standing Committee decided that the Law on Prices (amended) only regulates the ceiling price and does not regulate the floor price for textbooks.

Mr. Le Quang Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee.

Textbooks are essential goods, have a large consumer base, and have a wide range of influence. The price of these goods directly affects the majority of people, including low-income earners.

Currently, in the method of calculating book prices, publishers are adding the cost of book distribution, high discount rates leading to high book prices compared to the income of many people. For example, in the 2022-2023 school year, the discount rate for each textbook is 28.5% of the cover price, and for exercise books is 35% of the cover price. Therefore, Mr. Manh believes that it is necessary to have control tools to ensure that there is no negative impact on people.

Not setting a floor price is reasonable. The reason is that this is a special product, the target consumers are forced to buy, including the disadvantaged. If a floor price is set, book publishers cannot sell to people at a price lower than the floor price, which directly affects the interests of people, especially those with low incomes.

Besides, this revised Law on Prices does not have enough basis to add regulations on floor prices because the Government did not propose it, so it has not been possible to assess the impact of regulating floor prices on textbooks.

Textbooks are a diverse product in terms of types and consumed nationwide, so calculating a suitable floor price for each type of book and suitable for different regions is not feasible.

"Therefore, the Law is open. Depending on the socio-economic situation at each time, the Government will decide on an appropriate price ceiling," said Mr. Manh.

Many opinions are concerned about unfair competition if there is no regulation on floor prices. However, the regulations on prohibited competitive behavior are clearly stated in the Competition Law, if violated, it will be handled according to this law.

Previously, at the discussion sessions of the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly, National Assembly delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Duong delegation) said that it is necessary to include textbooks in the list of goods and services whose prices are determined by the state. With this regulation, we will be able to manage the prices of textbooks, avoiding prices being pushed up too high. In particular, it is necessary to regulate a certain price range - the maximum price.

“On the one hand, we still let publishers set prices according to market mechanisms, but on the other hand, the State needs to have a certain price ceiling. We cannot let businesses set prices however they want,” said Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Chairman of the Vietnam Valuation Association.

The pricing principle must comply with specific items in production that publishers must spend and have an appropriate profit level for reinvestment according to the provisions of the Law on Prices (amended) after being approved by the National Assembly.

Textbook prices have a major impact on social life, especially in remote, isolated, and economically disadvantaged areas. According to education statistics, the country has over 17 million high school students. Therefore, each increase in textbook prices has a major impact on the country's CPI.

This requires the State to have urgent solutions to regulate prices to ensure fairness and achieve social security goals, especially for remote areas and areas with economic difficulties.

Ha Cuong

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Source: https://vtc.vn/dbqh-chiet-khau-gan-30-moi-quyen-khien-gia-sach-giao-khoa-tang-cao-ar800597.html