Core Viewpoint - The market's focus on "anti-involution" has significantly increased, but there is considerable divergence in understanding "involution"; most viewpoints interpret it through the lens of supply-side reform, which may lead to misunderstandings [1] Misunderstanding of "Involution" and "Anti-Involution" - "Anti-involution" is not equivalent to "anti-surplus"; the causes of demand differ: "surplus" arises from declining demand and passive supply, while "involution" involves proactive supply increases in strong demand areas [2][9] - Price behaviors differ: "surplus" leads to follow-up price reductions due to demand decline, while "involution" results in chaotic price competition despite strong demand [2][9] Supply Issues - Prior to supply-side reform, there was surplus in upstream and state-owned enterprises; the current "anti-involution" is more pronounced in downstream and private enterprises [3][9] - High-energy-consuming industries have completed capacity concentration reforms, and traditional backward capacity is not as significant as before [4][9] Policy Focus - Policies may target industries with excessive supply growth, such as coal and photovoltaic sectors, but the focus is more on downstream adjustments rather than drastic supply reductions [5][9] - Avoiding excessive contraction in upstream supply is crucial to prevent "super-inflation" in prices, which could hinder the effectiveness of "anti-involution" policies [5][9] Policy Mechanisms - "Anti-involution" should not rely solely on self-discipline talks; successful strategies may include encouraging industry mergers, raising industry standards, and matching supportive policies [6][9] - The experience from Japan, the US, and Germany shows that market-driven reforms and non-price competition can effectively address overcapacity issues [7][9] Structural Adjustments - "Anti-involution" requires addressing the structural imbalance in demand rather than stimulating demand in surplus areas; developing service sector demand can help rebalance the economy [7][9] - The service sector has significant potential to absorb manufacturing job losses and alleviate "involution" challenges [7][9] Equipment and Debt Management - Addressing equipment update issues and overdue payments is essential; the current trend shows new equipment purchases without corresponding old equipment retirements, which can exacerbate "involution" [7][9] - The issue of overdue payments is more pronounced now, especially among private enterprises, necessitating stronger governance measures [7][9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rising importance of "anti-involution" in the market, highlighting significant misunderstandings regarding the concept of "involution" and its implications for supply-side reforms and economic structure transformation [2][3]. Group 1: Misunderstanding of "Involution" - "Involution" is not equivalent to "overcapacity"; it arises from strong demand leading to proactive supply increases, contrasting with passive overcapacity due to demand decline [3][4]. - The price behavior differs: "overcapacity" leads to price drops due to demand decline, while "involution" results in chaotic price competition despite strong demand [3][4]. - Supply-side reforms previously addressed overcapacity in high-energy sectors, while current "anti-involution" focuses on the middle and lower reaches of the supply chain, particularly among private enterprises [4][5]. Group 2: Targeted Areas of "Anti-Involution" - The high-energy sector has undergone significant capacity upgrades, and traditional backward capacities are not as prominent as before [5][6]. - Policies may target specific industries with excessive production, such as coal and pork, to stabilize prices, but the focus is more on aligning supply with demand rather than drastically reducing supply [6][7]. Group 3: Policy Mechanisms - Effective "anti-involution" strategies should not solely rely on self-discipline talks but should include industry mergers, raising standards, and matching supportive policies [8][9]. - Encouraging the development of non-overcapacity sectors, such as services, is crucial to rebalancing demand structures and addressing the root causes of "involution" [8][9]. Group 4: Equipment Update and Debt Management - Addressing the issue of equipment updates is vital, as many industries retain old equipment while acquiring new, which can lead to inefficiencies [9][142]. - The current situation shows a significant increase in overdue accounts, particularly among private enterprises, indicating a need for stricter debt management policies [152][160].

宏 观 研 究 "反内卷"系列 2025 年 07 月 17 日 "反内卷"：市场可能误解了什么？ ——"反内卷"系列专题之四 市场对"反内卷"重视度明显上升，但对"内卷"的理解却有很大分歧；多数观点以供给侧改革的 思维理解，但差之毫厘、谬以千里；除产量调控与自律约谈外，"反内卷"也有很多"隐藏手段"。 ⚫ 误解"内卷内涵"："反内卷"="反过剩"？ 需求成因不同："过剩"是需求下滑、供给被动过剩，"内卷"是需求强劲领域供给主动增加。供 给侧改革前，地产基建需求走弱，高耗能行业产能被动过剩；当下外需表现更强，但外需行业固定 资产周转率下滑至历史最低水平（2.6 以下），内需行业固定资产周转率虽在下行，但仍处于历史中 位数，外需行业比内需行业更卷；外卖等服务业（非贸易部门）不存在产能过剩问题、但也在内卷。 物价表现不同："过剩"是企业因需求下滑跟随式降价，"内卷"是企业因需求强劲"降价无序竞 争"。供给侧改革前，地产基建需求走弱，煤炭钢铁等 PPI 随之明显回落，相关行业制造业投资也 下行；当下内卷领域，盈利偏弱而制造业投资大幅扩张，外需领域投资增速更高（13%）。出口商 品价格（同比-5%以下）甚至低于相同商 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rising importance of "anti-involution" in the market, highlighting significant misunderstandings regarding the concept of "involution" and its implications for supply-side reforms and economic structure transformation [2][3]. Group 1: Misunderstanding of "Involution" - "Involution" is not equivalent to "overcapacity"; it arises from strong demand leading to proactive supply increases, contrasting with passive overcapacity due to demand decline [3][4]. - The price behavior differs: "overcapacity" leads to price drops due to demand decline, while "involution" results in chaotic price competition despite strong demand [3][4]. - Supply-side reforms previously addressed overcapacity in high-energy sectors, while current "anti-involution" focuses on the middle and lower reaches of the industry, particularly private enterprises [4][5]. Group 2: Targeted Areas of "Anti-Involution" - The high-energy sector has undergone significant capacity upgrades, and traditional backward capacity is not as pronounced as during previous reforms [5][6]. - Policies may target specific industries with excessive growth, such as coal and pork, to stabilize prices, but the focus is more on aligning supply with demand rather than drastically reducing supply [6][7]. Group 3: Policy Mechanisms - Effective "anti-involution" strategies should not solely rely on self-discipline talks but should include industry mergers, raising standards, and matching supportive policies [8][9]. - Historical experiences from Japan, the US, and Germany suggest that fostering non-price competition and developing non-overcapacity sectors, like services, is crucial for addressing the root causes of "involution" [8][9]. Group 4: Equipment Update and Debt Management - Addressing the issue of equipment updates is vital, as many industries retain old equipment while acquiring new, which can lead to inefficiencies [9][142]. - The current situation shows a significant increase in overdue accounts, particularly among private enterprises, indicating a need for stricter debt management policies [152][160].