李迅雷专栏 | 从“资产荒”角度看“内卷”的深层原因

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of "involution" in the context of declining investment returns and risk appetite in the capital market, suggesting that addressing these issues is crucial for effective "anti-involution" measures [2]. Group 1: Investment Returns and Involution - The return on investment for large-scale manufacturing enterprises has been declining, with profit margins decreasing from 5.35% in 2021 to 4.25% in the first five months of 2024 [5][11]. - The revenue generated per 100 yuan of assets for these enterprises has also dropped from 107 yuan in 2022 to 85.2 yuan in the first five months of 2024 [5][11]. - The phenomenon of "involution" is characterized by intensified competition among enterprises, leading to price wars that result in increased volume but reduced profits [11][19]. Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The persistent "supply exceeds demand" situation is attributed to previous investment expansions, with manufacturing investment growth outpacing overall investment growth from 2021 to 2024 [21][27]. - The average accounts receivable period for large-scale manufacturing enterprises has lengthened from 54 days in 2022 to 71.7 days in the first five months of 2024, indicating increased financial pressure [16][30]. - The capacity utilization rate for these enterprises has decreased from 75.8% in 2022 to 74.2% in the first half of 2024, reflecting a growing surplus in production capacity [19][27]. Group 3: Government Policies and Economic Structure - Local governments are incentivized to boost manufacturing investment to meet GDP targets, often leading to distorted market resource allocation through aggressive investment policies [28][30]. - Recent policies have increased financial support for manufacturing, with long-term loans to the sector growing significantly, providing substantial funding for investment expansions [30][32]. - The article highlights the need for a balanced approach to address both supply-side issues and consumer demand, suggesting that effective "anti-involution" strategies should focus on increasing household income and promoting consumption [72].