According to the Newspaper Innovation blog, Danish papers receive a yearly tax deduction of €200 million because they pay 0% VAT (instead of the normal 25% VAT) and enjoy discounted postal rates. Therefore taxpayers are already sponsoring the costs of the war between publishers.

Danish papers are also among Europe’s most expensive: a full subscription to Politiken costs €500 a year, while a single copy is sold for over €2.

The free papers have until April to find a solution to waste and unwanted copies, or a new law could be passed. The law would force papers to respect mailbox stickers that refuse the delivery of free papers.

Whereas many fear the disappearance of newspapers, this is an example of the counter-productive – and costly – effect of having too many newspapers.

Source: Newspaper Innovation