内卷的解药不是涨价

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of business competition from price-cutting strategies to concerns about "low-price internal competition," emphasizing the need for businesses to focus on value creation rather than merely competing on price [4][5]. Group 1: Price Dynamics - Over the past decade, the price of a 55-inch television has dropped from approximately 5000 yuan to 1500 yuan, driven by larger display panel production sizes that reduce unit costs [8]. - The average price of household air purifiers has decreased by 34% since 2016, while production volume has increased by 53%, indicating that market expansion leads to lower prices [10]. - The emergence of low prices is often linked to two conditions: market scale growth and a fragmented market structure, where increased consumer sensitivity to price drives manufacturers to lower prices [9]. Group 2: Value Creation - The article argues that when a product's price increases without any enhancement in its attributes or production processes, competitors will likely undercut prices, leading to a return to fair pricing [20]. - True consumption upgrades occur when previously unaffordable products become accessible to new consumer segments, rather than merely shifting existing consumers to higher-priced alternatives [21]. - The creation of new value beyond raw materials and production processes is essential for improving social wealth and purchasing power [22][23]. Group 3: Market Structure and Competition - As market scales reach their limits and competition consolidates, price competition becomes less effective, leading to stable pricing among major players [14][15]. - The article highlights that the characteristics of entrepreneurs often reflect the stability and growth potential of their respective markets, with those in stagnant markets expressing concerns about low-price competition [17]. - The need to escape low-price competition is linked to enhancing labor productivity rather than eliminating low-priced goods [28]. Group 4: Human Capital and Innovation - High-value products often reduce the proportion of value derived from raw materials and production, instead relying on human knowledge and skills for value creation [27]. - The article emphasizes that the true value of products comes from design, innovation, and branding, rather than just manufacturing processes [24][25]. - Social progress is defined by the ability of individuals to achieve fair market pricing based on their skills and knowledge, rather than being tied to traditional production metrics [32][33].