Industry Overview & Policy Response - China's food delivery platforms are experiencing intense voucher promotions, leading to excessive consumption in some cases [1] - The Politburo in China has vowed to curb "irrational price competition" [2] - The government is addressing "involution" (内卷), a phenomenon of vicious competition leading to diminishing returns, now affecting sectors like EVs and e-commerce [2][3] - Officials have summoned EV makers and food delivery giants to self-regulate after price wars with discounts as deep as 34% [4] Economic Impact & Challenges - Cutthroat competition has squeezed industrial profits, with factory deflation lasting three to four months and the Consumer Price Index hovering around zero [5] - The need to reflect the economy and expand domestic consumption is increasingly urgent under the threat of more tariffs [5] - Addressing price wars among private firms is more challenging than capacity cuts in sectors like steel and coal [6] Future Outlook - Anti-involution measures may not work in the short term (4-8 months), but positive sentiment and real economic response are expected in the long run (1-2 years) [7] - China faces the challenge of persuading CEOs to cut production, consumers to accept higher prices, and local officials to avoid competing for new investments in crowded sectors [8] - Supply-side reforms are likely to be gradual to avoid job losses and economic repercussions [8]