反内卷不是商量着“不卷” | 反内卷系列评论

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the phenomenon of "involution" in various industries, highlighting the need for a shift towards rational competition rather than price wars and resource monopolization, which can lead to long-term inefficiencies and potential violations of antitrust laws [1][2]. Group 1: Involution and Its Consequences - Involution has become a common issue across industries such as photovoltaics, home appliances, automotive manufacturing, and internet services, where companies engage in price competition and subsidies, sacrificing long-term profits and innovation [1]. - The root cause of involution is an imbalance in competitive mechanisms, where companies prioritize short-term market share over sustainable practices, leading to excessive competition and resource waste [1][2]. Group 2: Industry Response and Risks - As the consensus against involution grows, some companies are forming price alliances and industry coordination under the guise of self-discipline, which poses risks of collusion and potential violations of antitrust laws [2][3]. - The silicon material storage incident illustrates the challenges faced by the photovoltaic industry, where overcapacity has led to significant price fluctuations and a crisis of losses, prompting major companies to adopt production cuts and self-regulatory strategies [2][3]. Group 3: Antitrust Concerns - The establishment of a silicon material storage platform by competing companies to manage overcapacity may inadvertently lead to price increases, raising concerns about potential violations of antitrust laws regarding horizontal agreements to limit production or sales [3][4]. - Regulatory bodies have noted the trend of companies using the pretext of anti-involution to engage in collusion, emphasizing that industry self-regulation should not lead to price-fixing or production limitation agreements [4][5]. Group 4: Compliance and Future Directions - Companies must be cautious of leading price alliances or production agreements under the banner of industry self-discipline, as this could expose them to legal repercussions [5][6]. - To genuinely escape the trap of involution, companies should focus on building a compliance culture that integrates antitrust considerations into their strategic and operational frameworks, shifting the competitive focus from price to service and value [6].