【西街观察】告别内卷，外卖要竞争也要健康

Core Viewpoint - The State Council's Anti-Monopoly and Anti-Unfair Competition Committee has initiated an investigation into the competitive landscape of the food delivery platform industry, highlighting issues of excessive subsidies, price wars, and traffic control that have led to "involution" and negatively impacted the real economy [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Competition - The food delivery industry has seen intense competition, initially sparked by JD.com, followed by fierce battles between Alibaba's Taobao and Meituan, escalating amidst a multi-format e-commerce environment [1]. - Regulatory scrutiny has been ongoing, with the government previously engaging with major platforms like JD, Meituan, and Alibaba to ensure fair competition [1]. - The current competition is characterized by a focus on market share acquisition through heavy spending, which has not translated into sustainable business improvements, resulting in significant financial burdens for the platforms [1]. Group 2: Impact on Stakeholders - Many small and medium-sized businesses are experiencing a situation where increased order volume does not equate to increased revenue, leading to a cycle of burdens without corresponding financial benefits [2]. - Delivery riders are also facing challenges, as the influx of orders does not lead to proportional earnings, and consumer subsidies are not effectively reaching the labor force [2]. - Consumers may benefit from low prices in the short term, but this comes with hidden risks, such as the potential for lower quality products and services due to aggressive pricing strategies [2]. Group 3: Regulatory Response and Future Directions - The government has emphasized the need to address "involution" in competition, particularly in the e-commerce sector, which is marked by low prices and low quality, lacking innovation [2]. - A healthy industry requires new entrants and should focus on creating value rather than engaging in destructive competition that leads to resource waste and declining profits [3]. - The regulatory intervention signals a push towards fostering fair and orderly competition, aiming to shift from mere market share battles to enhancing supply chain efficiency and promoting high-quality, differentiated competition [3].