Until recently, in Switzerland (and elsewhere in Europe), the subject of road pricing to reduce traffic congestion was not a primary matter of public or academic interest. However, as the number of congested hours per year keeps growing, and information regarding successful experiences abroad become available (see the London Congestion Charge), mentalities begin to change slowly. Road pricing is increasingly considered as an alternative to just keep waiting in the traffic jam (UK Department for Transport; Grieco and Jones, 1994; Ahlstrand, 2001; Willoughby, 2001; Raux and Souche, 2004).

As road pricing is an exchange of money for the "time lost", it is discussed if and how beneficial and welfare-enhancing, road pricing is from the society's point of view. A good example of this controversial discussion is the immediate reaction of the TCS (Touring Club Suisse) to a conference on road pricing organized on April 30, 2004, by the VCS (Verkehrsclub der Schweiz; Swiss Traffic Association) in Bern, Switzerland. On May 1, 2004 an article entitled "Payer Pour Entrer En Ville?" was published in Le Matin. The report contained the following quotation: "Pour le TCS, le peage urbain est inadapte et anti social".

This paper is concerned with the following question: Is the use of road pricing to reduce traffic congestion really "anti social"? Does it produce socially harmful results? We hereby limit the application of the concept of road pricing only to its effect on traffic congestion. Its application to other uses like financing infrastructure, covering social costs, etc., have been extensively discussed in other works (Levinson). We are also aware that pricing is certainly not the only device for allocating road space, but within the process of the working of markets it is, maybe the most effective one.

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