Group 1 - The core issue of the article revolves around the "involution" competition in the food delivery industry, highlighted by the recent discussions among major platforms like Meituan, Ele.me, and JD.com, which have committed to ending irrational promotions [1][3] - The intense competition has led to significant pressure on delivery riders and merchants, with riders experiencing increased order volumes but also physical strain, while merchants face declining dine-in traffic and increased losses per order due to platform demands for further discounts [3][4] - Experts emphasize that excessive competition harms market efficiency and fairness, with subsidies failing to cultivate user habits or expand market size, instead leading to a substitution effect between online and offline businesses [3][4] Group 2 - The phenomenon of "double involution" in platform economies is characterized by both inter-platform competition for user traffic through large subsidies and intra-platform merchants being forced to participate in subsidies to attract private traffic [4] - Recommendations for addressing involution competition include flexible regulatory approaches, such as platform reminders to standardize competitive behavior and the use of existing legal frameworks to regulate predatory pricing [4][5] - Experts suggest that platforms should shift from short-sighted subsidy competition to differentiated development strategies, focusing on service quality and technological innovation to gain competitive advantages [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the phenomenon of "involution" in various industries in China, highlighting the negative impacts of excessive price competition and the resulting decline in product quality and innovation [2][4][5]. Group 1: Involution in Various Industries - The external environment has led to severe price wars across multiple sectors, including the automotive, food delivery, and renewable energy industries, with price reductions reaching as high as 45% in the electric vehicle market [2][3]. - The food delivery platforms like Meituan and Ele.me are engaged in a subsidy war, resulting in profits for certain products, such as milk tea, dropping below 1 yuan, and in some cases, leading to negative profit margins [3][4]. - In the automotive sector, profit margins have plummeted to 3.9%, forcing companies to engage in aggressive price cuts to stimulate sales, creating a vicious cycle of declining sales and further price reductions [3][4]. Group 2: Consequences of Involution - Involution leads to a reduction in necessary operational costs, which ultimately harms research and development investments, resulting in a cycle of innovation stagnation and product homogenization [4][5]. - The excessive competition has created systemic risks, with the potential for overcapacity and a decline in industry competitiveness, ultimately harming consumer rights and high-quality development [5][6]. - The government has recognized the issue, with multiple meetings emphasizing the need to prevent "involution" and regulate low-price competition among enterprises [6][7]. Group 3: Government and Industry Response - The National Market Supervision Administration has begun addressing the issue by engaging with major platforms to regulate promotional activities and encourage rational competition [8]. - Industry self-regulation is showing positive signs, with leading automotive companies taking steps to stabilize supply chains and various associations urging food delivery platforms to cease irrational subsidies [8][9]. - The focus is shifting from price competition to value creation, with an emphasis on innovation and differentiation to enhance market competitiveness and consumer experience [9].

Group 1 - The subsidy war among food delivery platforms in China is cooling down following a joint statement from Meituan, Ele.me, and JD.com, which committed to avoiding irrational promotions after being interviewed by the State Administration for Market Regulation [1] - Delivery riders and merchants are facing pressure; while order volumes and incomes have increased in the short term, the high intensity of work is causing physical and mental strain [1] - A mid-tier fast food company's management reported a 12%-15% decline in dine-in customer flow due to delivery subsidies, with delivery orders increasing from 15% to 22% of total sales [1] Group 2 - Over-competition and "involution" in the market can harm efficiency and fairness, with subsidies failing to cultivate user habits or expand market size, primarily substituting online for offline business [2] - The subsidy war may accelerate the "Matthew effect," where financially strong platforms use extensive subsidies to squeeze out competitors, leading to increased market concentration [2] - The "double involution" in platform economics involves both competition among platforms for user traffic and merchants being forced to participate in subsidies to gain private traffic [2] Group 3 - Recommendations for government regulation include flexible enforcement, such as reminding platforms to standardize competitive behavior, and utilizing existing laws to regulate predatory pricing [3] - Platforms are advised to avoid short-sighted subsidy competition and instead pursue differentiated development paths by enhancing service quality and technological innovation to gain competitive advantages [3]

这里是民生调查局，见人所未见，调查民生之变。关注你想关注的、你没关注的，调查你想 看的、未看到的。 中新网北京8月9日电(左雨晴)"我等个奶茶等了一个多小时。"立秋这天，奶茶店爆单，奶茶店员和外卖 小哥成了热搜里"立秋第一杯奶茶的受害者"。 晚上六点，正值外卖点单的高峰期，"85后"外卖骑手赵彰(化名)同时打开美团、京东、饿了么三个平台 接单，并祈祷不同平台派送的单子尽量能在一个方向。另一边，餐饮店员面对着不断新增的外卖订单， 被外卖骑手催到崩溃。 今年以来，各平台掀起新一轮"外卖大战"。这场持续数月的"狂欢"，对平台、餐饮商家和外卖骑手，究 竟意味着什么？中国新闻网《民生调查局》进行了采访调查。 外卖骑手：每日工作超12小时 "单量明显增加"是外卖骑手最直观的感受。 "去年没有补贴的时候是限单，骑手每天限制不能超过45单或者50单，现在是限低，每天不能低于40单 或者45单。" 编者按： 赵彰告诉记者，他从2020年年底来到北京，各平台的外卖都送过。"我在骑手里属于比较'极端'的，跑 起来稍微拼命一点。" 资料图：外卖小哥顶着烈日在北京街头骑车配送。 中新社记者 贾天勇 摄 外卖订单激增下，赵彰的收入也水涨 ...

资料图：外卖小哥顶着烈日在北京街头骑车配送。中新社记者贾天勇摄 01 外卖骑手：每日工作超12小时 "单量明显增加"是外卖骑手最直观的感受。 "去年没有补贴的时候是限单，骑手每天限制不能超过45单或者50单，现在是限低，每天不能低于40单 或者45单。" 赵彰告诉记者，他从2020年年底来到北京，各平台的外卖都送过。"我在骑手里属于比较'极端'的，跑 起来稍微拼命一点。" 外卖订单激增下，赵彰的收入也水涨船高，上个月他跑了约2600单。"订单跟去年比几乎翻倍，我现在 的收入是去年同期的1.5倍，月收入差不多有2万多元。" "我等个奶茶等了一个多小时。"立秋这天，奶茶店爆单，奶茶店员和外卖小哥成了热搜里"立秋第一杯 奶茶的受害者"。 晚上六点，正值外卖点单的高峰期，"85后"外卖骑手赵彰（化名）同时打开美团、京东、饿了么三个平 台接单，并祈祷不同平台派送的单子尽量能在一个方向。另一边，餐饮店员面对着不断新增的外卖订 单，被外卖骑手催到崩溃。 今年以来，各平台掀起新一轮"外卖大战"。这场持续数月的"狂欢"，对平台、餐饮商家和外卖骑手，究 竟意味着什么？中国新闻网《民生调查局》进行了采访调查。 不过，赵彰收入提升并 ...

Core Viewpoint - The revision of the Price Law aims to address the rampant "involution" competition across various industries, which undermines sustainable development and innovation, by establishing clearer legal standards and responsibilities for price-related behaviors [1][2][6] Group 1: Issues in Current Market Competition - Industries such as livestock, photovoltaic, and electric vehicles are experiencing severe price wars, leading to overall losses and diminished profit margins [1] - The phenomenon of "involution" competition is characterized by companies sacrificing profits to gain market share, which ultimately harms the entire industry's innovation capacity and international competitiveness [1][5] - The current market is plagued by low-cost dumping and other unfair pricing practices that disrupt normal market order and threaten sustainable industry development [5] Group 2: Key Changes in the Price Law Revision - The revision introduces a shift from "setting levels" to "establishing mechanisms" for government pricing, promoting fair and lawful price competition [2] - It explicitly defines unfair pricing behaviors, including below-cost dumping to eliminate competitors, and prohibits coercive pricing practices [2][3] - New provisions address unfair pricing behaviors in the digital economy, targeting practices like "forced bundling" and "big data discrimination" that exploit market dominance [3] Group 3: Strengthening Legal Responsibilities - The revision significantly increases penalties for price violations, raising the maximum fine for failing to comply with pricing regulations from 5,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan [4] - It introduces legal responsibilities for businesses that refuse or provide false information during cost audits, enhancing enforcement capabilities [4] - The changes signal a commitment to higher costs for price violations, aiming to deter ineffective regulatory practices [4] Group 4: Implications for Market Dynamics - The revision reflects a respect for economic development laws and aims to protect market order, emphasizing the importance of fair competition [6] - By addressing "involution" competition, the law seeks to redirect focus from price wars to value-based competition, preserving reasonable profit margins for businesses [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses the negative impact of cutthroat competition in the study tour market, emphasizing the need for collaboration rather than price wars [4][5][8] - It highlights the importance of service quality in the tourism industry, suggesting that poor service leads to a loss of consumer trust and ultimately harms businesses [5][6] Group 1: Industry Competition - The study tour market is experiencing a downturn due to intense competition, which has led to a decline in product quality and consumer trust [4][5] - The article contrasts the current situation in the study tour sector with price wars in other industries, noting that the latter often maintains product quality while the former does not [4] - The ongoing price competition is unsustainable and has resulted in a vicious cycle of negative profits and declining service quality [5][6] Group 2: Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships - The article advocates for a collaborative approach between study tour institutions and travel agencies, highlighting the strengths each can bring to the table [4][8] - Successful partnerships, such as the collaboration between a travel agency and a STEAM education institution, have shown that strategic cooperation can lead to higher profit margins [8] - The concept of "cooperation for mutual benefit" is rooted in ancient wisdom and is presented as a viable solution to current industry challenges [8][9] Group 3: Industry Events - The article mentions the recent travel business study tour summit held on August 28, which aimed to promote the idea of cooperation among industry players [9] - Various exhibitors, including travel agencies and educational institutions, participated in the summit to explore potential partnerships and share insights on the future of study tourism [10][12][16]

Core Viewpoint - The Beijing Catering Industry Association has issued a formal initiative to jointly resist "involution-style" competition and maintain a fair market order, emphasizing the need for the entire industry to adhere to ethical standards and reject irrational competition [1][3]. Group 1: Resistance to Irrational Competition - The initiative calls for companies to avoid predatory pricing below cost to eliminate competitors and not to force downstream partners to bear unreasonable subsidy burdens [4][6]. - It emphasizes the rejection of monopolistic behaviors such as "choose one" and exclusive cooperation that restrict competition [4][6]. - Companies are urged to eliminate practices that compromise quality, such as cutting corners or misleading consumers through false advertising and extreme low-price promotions [4][5]. Group 2: Addressing Negative Impacts of Involution - The initiative highlights that the current "involution" competition has severely disrupted fair market order, harmed consumer rights, and squeezed reasonable profit margins for businesses, threatening sustainable industry development [3][5]. - It stresses the importance of moving away from short-sighted price competition and focusing on sustainable business practices that enhance core competitiveness [5][6]. Group 3: Compliance and Self-Regulation - Companies are encouraged to conduct compliance self-checks against relevant laws and regulations, such as the Anti-Monopoly Law and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, to identify and rectify potential risks [6][7]. - The initiative calls for the establishment of internal compliance management systems and regular employee training to prevent systemic risks [6][7]. Group 4: Collaborative Industry Ecosystem - The initiative advocates for maintaining symbiotic relationships within the supply chain, ensuring fair transactions, and safeguarding the rights of upstream and downstream partners [7]. - It encourages companies to respond to social responsibilities by providing safe working conditions and promoting green logistics to reduce resource waste [7][8]. - The association emphasizes that there are no winners in vicious competition, and a fair and healthy competitive environment is essential for long-term growth and stability in the industry [7][8].

Group 1: Market Performance - In the first half of the year, China's automotive production and sales both exceeded 15.6 million units, with year-on-year increases of 12.5% and 11.4% respectively [2] - Passenger car production and sales surpassed 13.5 million units, reflecting a growth of approximately 13% [2] - The sales data prompted various automakers to adjust their annual targets, with some expressing confidence and others entering a "wartime state" due to competitive pressures [2][3] Group 2: Company Strategies and Targets - Geely Auto achieved 52% of its annual sales target with 1.409 million units sold, leading to an 11% upward revision of its target from 2.71 million to 3 million units [3] - Dongfeng Motor aims to challenge a sales target of 1.88 million units in the second half, with a total goal of 3 million units, including 1 million in new energy vehicles [3] - Chery Auto plans to reach a sales target of 2 million units in the second half, with a revenue goal of over 600 billion yuan [3] Group 3: Product Launches and Innovations - Several automakers are set to launch new models in the second half, including SAIC's new vehicles and Geely's five hybrid products [4] - The automotive industry is focusing on the iteration of intelligent technologies, with more L3-level conditional autonomous driving solutions expected to be announced [5] - Companies like Chery and Geely are restructuring their organizational frameworks to enhance operational efficiency and product development [5] Group 4: Profitability Challenges - Despite strong sales growth, the automotive industry faces low profit margins, with a reported profit margin of 4.8% for the first half of the year, below the industrial average of 5.15% [6] - From 2020 to 2024, the industry's profits decreased from 215.1 billion yuan to 65.4 billion yuan, a reduction of 70% [6] - Many automakers, including GAC Group and BAIC Blue Valley, are expected to report significant losses for the first half of the year due to various operational challenges [7][8] Group 5: Industry Competition and Regulation - The automotive industry is experiencing increasing pressure to address "involution" in pricing, with government bodies taking steps to regulate competition [9][10] - Recent government meetings have focused on curbing irrational competition in the new energy vehicle sector, which has been detrimental to profit margins [10] - Experts suggest that while regulatory measures may help stabilize profit margins, addressing the root causes of irrational pricing behavior is essential for long-term improvement [11]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of "involutionary competition" in various industries, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to address the inefficiencies and negative impacts of price wars, particularly in the platform economy [5][6][23]. Group 1: Definition and Characteristics of Involutionary Competition - "Involutionary competition" is characterized by low-price strategies leading to a race to the bottom, resulting in decreased profit margins and stagnation in industry development [8][9]. - This form of competition is marked by low-quality homogenization, price wars, and short-term behavior, ultimately harming the overall value of the industry [8][9]. Group 2: Price Wars and Their Implications - Price wars, while appearing beneficial in the short term, can create a "bubble market" through capital subsidies, leading to unsustainable competition [10][12]. - The phenomenon of sacrificing profits for market survival is driven by market pressures, strategic goals, and the allure of short-term gains [9][10]. Group 3: Regulatory Framework and Legal Measures - New regulations, including amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and the Price Law, aim to provide tools for comprehensive governance of involutionary competition [11][14]. - The revised laws will prohibit platforms from forcing merchants to sell below cost, thereby preventing market disruption and protecting fair competition [12][14]. Group 4: Transition from Price Competition to Value Competition - The article advocates for a shift from price wars to value-based competition, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach involving government policy, industry self-regulation, and corporate innovation [20][21]. - This transition is seen as essential for breaking the cycle of low-price, low-quality competition and fostering a healthier market environment [21][23].