[pas]

"Capitalism" completely solved the textbook problem, it simply ignored universities and degrees and whatnot altogether. (How come coding bootcamps don't have expensive textbooks?)

I put the quotes there because (arguably obviously) it's also thanks to capitalism that intellectual property is extended so obscenely.

Anyway, no university (or higher-ed institution) is forced to use textbooks. They do it because they can. Because there's no market force pushing prices down, because captive audience, because the signaling value of degrees is still high (because nobody got fired for hiring the candidate with more degrees - that also happens to have a wealthier background, and maybe even also happens to be white). But it's changing (due to market forces).

Similarly, housing is not a market problem. It's about "preserving the character of the neighborhood", and most neighborhoods happen to be favoring those who happen to be wealthy and against building.