This chapter first looks at international data on the publishing industry and then at the production of trade books, including authors' contracts, and after that at consumption – both the demand for books and for library services – and at various schemes for stimulating reading. Authors may be supported by state subsidy and awards, and these schemes and evidence on authors' earnings from copyright round off the chapter.

Background

Publishing covers a wide range of print material that is distributed in various ways. There is considerable product diversity within the categories of publication, such as books, journals, magazines and newspapers; books may be fiction or non-fiction, textbooks or manuals; fiction may be a great classic or a trifling tale. Until recently publication was on paper, but now electronic books and other publications are emerging and digitisation is under way in the industry. Book publication is divided into several categories: the biggest distinction is between trade books and educational and professional books. The latter, which constitute around a half of the publishing market, are aimed at schools and colleges; our interest here is in the market for ‘trade’ books, meaning adult fiction and non-fiction and children's books.

Books are some of the oldest cultural products and reading is an essential means of accessing knowledge and entertainment, and authorship – the creation of content – is one of the oldest creative activities. Book publishing has been a creative industry for centuries and has been a private enterprise for as long.