Romania’s Publishers Association rightly argues a rise in VAT will decrease sales and increase piracy

The Romanian Publishers Association reports piracy already on the rise since the Pandemic, and say raising VAT will simply play into the pirates’ hands.

Romania is, according to a report on the Bookfest site, the smallest book market per capita in the European Union, so anything that will depress sales still further is not to be welcomed.

Enter, stage right, the Big Bad Govt. with plans to raise VAT from the current 5% to 19%.

The Romanian Publishers Association reports piracy already on the rise since the Pandemic, and say raising VAT will simply play into the pirates’ hands.

“Piracy results in lost income for all members of the book value chain: authors, publishers, booksellers, and the increase in VAT will translate, on the one hand, into an increase in piracy and, on the other hand, into an accentuation of the trend of declining sales.”

Check out the Bookfest post for more.

#Romaniapublishing #Romaniabookmarket