Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing issue of outdated pricing standards in the construction and planning industries, highlighting the need for updated fee structures to reflect current market conditions and ensure fair compensation for design services [2][3][6]. Group 1: Current Standards and Issues - The construction and planning sectors are still using fee standards that are over 20 years old, which do not align with the current demands and complexities of projects [3][7]. - The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) transitioned design fee regulation from government-guided pricing to market-based pricing in 2015, yet many government-funded projects still reference the outdated 2002 standards, often applying discounts of 20%-50% [5][6]. Group 2: Impact on Professionals - The low fee standards have led to a persistent undervaluation of design services, resulting in a talent drain from the industry due to inadequate compensation [6][10]. - In the planning sector, similar issues exist, with professionals facing challenges in charging appropriate fees for complex services like urban disaster prevention, which are still based on outdated guidelines [8][9]. Group 3: Recommendations for Change - There is a call for the establishment of reasonable fee standards for architectural design services, including minimum pricing guidelines to prevent quality degradation due to excessively low fees [10][12]. - Experts suggest that the government should enhance supervision of bidding platforms and penalize companies engaging in malicious low-price competition to maintain market order [12].