Reading and Libraries in Peru: A Demand Estimation Through a Latent Class Model

Aware of the key role played by reading in creating intangible value for society in the form of cultural capital, our work seeks to analyze the demand for reading in a country with a low reading rate. Using data from the 2022 Peruvian National Reading Survey, we apply latent class models and consumer behavior analysis to classify readers according to their propensity to read, and we find three distinct groups. The results allow us to understand better the sector and what implications libraries have in these emerging contexts as well as the policy decisions taken to promote reading.