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An example of a living author relinquishing authorship: 
 
1st  ed:  Christopher  Johnson  Measuring  the  Economy:  A  guide  to understanding
official statistics Penguin 1988
 
2nd ed: Christopher Johnson and Simon Briscoe Measuring the Economy: a guide to
understanding official statistics, new edition Penguin 1995.
 
3ed  ed: Simon Briscoe Interpreting the Economy: an essential guide to economic statistics
Penguin 2000. Inside the book it is described as a new  edition  of  the  old  book,
though under a new title, and it is mentioned  that  Johnson  served  as  a "Consultant
Editor" on the new edition, so presumably it met with his approval.
 
Sorry  it is an example that will be unfamiliar to readers outside the UK.  Though  I
cannot remember other examples, I think there are other examples  where an author has
decided that his or her contribution has become  so small (presumably reflected in the
share of royalties) that it  is  fair  for  all  the  credit  to  go  to  his or her co-
author. Presumably  the  history  of  the  book  is usually detailed somewhere inside  it.
After  all,  there  are  lots  of  books  where  generous assistance  is provided by
someone who does not wish to be credited as a  co-author, even others might think he or
she should be described as such. This situation is not that different from dropping a name
from a new edition.
 
Roger Backhouse 
 
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