The Hidden Economics of Your Vacation: Why a 2-Hour Transfer in the Alps Can Cost More Than a Flight

We think of pricing as a simple logic of distance and quality. But after diving into a rare data-driven analysis of the €2 billion Alpine transfer market, I realized the real cost drivers are invisible forces: structural inefficiencies, information asymmetry, and the surprisingly high price of consumer trust.
I've always been fascinated by markets that defy simple logic. Why does a cup of artisanal coffee cost $7? Why is some enterprise software priced per seat, while another is priced per API call? These aren't just arbitrary numbers; they are the surface-level results of deep, often hidden, economic forces. Recently, I stumbled upon a perfect example of such a market in an unexpected place: the private ski transfer industry in the Alps.