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@HarryT. These are the main factors leading to my belief that gouging is occurring:
1. Agency Pricing and the rising prices under Agency Pricing.
2. Related and overlapping with 1, is the now non-existent price competition for traditionally published ebooks at the retail level. Whilst the Big 5 claim they do compete, I understand it is common ground between them that they do not compete on price.
3. The apparent strategic aim of the Big Publishers to try to try to preserve their traditional print book businesses and legacy practices at the expense of ebooks. Harper Collins, in discussions with Apple's Eddy Cue, wanted to charge $18 to $20 for ebooks. Not exactly compatible with promoting ebook sales.
4. The Price Fixing Cartel with Apple and the war on Amazon.
5. The history of the Publishing Industry and many of its major players. The British and US publishers essentially divided the world between them and ruthlessly exploited the markets they controlled, aided in many cases by Parallel Import legislation and other similarly restrictive laws. Pre-Amazon there was essentially no competition. On the other side of the coin, contracts offered to authors made and still make working in an Amazon warehouse look wonderful to all but the very top tier of best selling authors. The history of Publishing is one of exploiting all concerned. Of course, things have now changed, but I see little indication that the Big 5 recognise this.
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