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 service industry, highlighting issues of excessive subsidies, price wars, and traffic control that have led to "involution" in competition [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 further amid multi-format e-commerce conflicts [1]. - Regulatory scrutiny has been ongoing, with the government previously engaging with major platforms like JD.com, Meituan, and Alibaba to ensure fair competition [1]. - The ongoing price wars have resulted in significant financial burdens for platforms, which have not translated into sustainable business improvements [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, reflecting a broader issue of financial strain across the industry [2]. - Delivery riders are also facing challenges, as the influx of orders does not lead to proportional income, indicating a disconnect between consumer subsidies and worker compensation [2]. - Consumers may benefit from low prices in the short term, but this comes with hidden risks, such as the potential for lower quality and service standards [2]. Group 3: Regulatory and Market Implications - The government has emphasized the need to address "involution" in competition, particularly in e-commerce, where low prices and low quality dominate, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage [2][3]. - Healthy competition is essential for industry growth, and the current state of "involution" hinders innovation and value creation, necessitating a shift towards differentiated, high-quality competition [3]. - The regulatory intervention signals a commitment to fostering fair competition and improving overall market health, moving from mere market share battles to enhancing supply chain efficiency and innovation [3].