Publishing analyst Carlo Carrenho kicks off the week with a review of the headlines from across the international publishing world.
Around the Book World: Monday, September 14th, 2026
Publishing analyst Carlo Carrenho kicks off the week with a review of the headlines from across the international publishing world.
Zero VAT Leads to a Book Market Rebound in the Czech Republic
Book sales in the Czech Republic grew by 6% in value since the government eliminated the value-added tax (VAT) on book sales, according to the 2024-2025 Czech Book Market Report.
Denmark Drops Its 25-Percent VAT on Books
In a belief ‘that we must put everything at stake’ to raise its flagging reading levels, Copenhagen drops its VAT on books to zero.
Slovakia’s Publishers Surprised by a VAT Reduction on Books
Facing publishing industry backlash, Slovakia’s government reversed its 23-percent book VAT hike, instead slashing it to 5 percent.
Mixed Sales on the Czech Book Market, Despite Zero-VAT Rates
Even as the publishing business in the Czech Republic has welcomed a zero-percent VAT, book sales continue dropping.
Germany’s Publishers: ‘Relieve the Burden on Culture’
As the Scholz coalition spirals toward a new parliamentary election, book business leaders lay out what they need.
Poland: ‘Best Year in a Decade’ in Reading Rates
When Biblioteka Narodowa, Poland’s National Library, made its 2023 survey, it found a 9-percent jump in respondents’ book consumption.
Cheers in the Czech Republic for the End of VAT on Books
Book publishers in the Czech Republic praise their legislators for removing the 10-percent value-added tax formerly levied on books.
Sri Lanka: Publishers, Booksellers Oppose a Book Tax Hike
The world associations of publishers and booksellers, IPA and EIBF, call on Colombo to cancel a tax hike on Sri Lanka’s imported books.