Conflict Resolution between Multi-Level Government and Farmers in Land Expropriation Based on Institutional Credibility Theory: Empirical Evidence from Shandong Province, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The study is dedicated to the challenging issue of the mechanisms of the simplification or resolving of conflicts in the course of land alienation. The development of the state or its regions should be supported by the adoption of transparent decisions on land management particularly on the local level.
The theme of the article is urgent for China, which is pointed out by authors in the Introduction, as well as for other countries which face the land expropriation for social necessity. In most cases, the process of alienation is problematic and scientific researches in this field facilitate the resolving of this issue.
This paper adopts the institutional credibility theory, incorporates some instruments into a unified accounting framework. The authors construct a conflict stress index.
The study makes a positive impression, however, there are some comments.
 The authors should have substantiated the data from 2003 to 2017, especially, why the data from the last 5 years were not used.
The article would benefit if the authors had separated the goals of alienation, i.e. demolition of dilapidated housing, development of infrastructure facilities, etc. Considering reimbursement and other alienation tools, it would be reasonable to pay attention to the technical features of land plots, i.e. configuration, placement, designated use, etc.
The review of previous studies and their citation is appropriate. Literary sources are relevant to the research line. The conclusions are relevant to the evidence and arguments. The study involves one province only, the authors should have pointed out how the results of the research can be implemented in other regions with different conditions like soil pollution, industrial facilities in the neighborhood, the need for amelioration, the formation of recreational zones, etc. For example, the reimbursement for the alienation of polluted land substantially differs from the reimbursement of land not subject to pollution, etc. The findings can facilitate the simplification or conflict resolving in the course of land alienation, i.e. be used as an additional factor at managerial decision making. The study can be recommended to publishing by the total of the presented exploration carried out by the authors.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript introduced the Conflict Analysis Model to explain the conflicts from MVLT policy in Shandong Province. The theoretical framework is clear and the findings are interesting. However, to accept this manuscript, several problems should be solved in the analysis.

1.     About the Tables 7 and 8, I understand that Group 2 and Group 3 are discussed in Tables 8(4) and (3). Why these two groups are divided into two subgroups? With which standards? Please explain the necessity of this division.

2.     Why is the variable of living in a policy implementation area excluded in Table 8(3) and (4).  Are all families in these two groups living in the policy implementation area?

3.     Line 524-525, the order of two groups is wrong.

4.     Some regression in Table 9 may not be reliable as the sample amount is too small, such as 9(3). I understand it is the data limitation. But too small data amount may affect the significance of the parameters. The hypothesis H3 itself is about the limited improvement by the administrative means, i.e. we expect insignificant parameters. This data limitation may limit the reliability of your conclusion about H3.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

Abstract: Ok.

Literature review: Based on the article, the literature review should be improved by using current articles and synthesis all the facts. The author just reports more than synthesizes all the information to come up with new facts-based literature.

The explanation of the theoretical framework should be improved and make it easy for readers to understand the explanation.

Conclusion: Please avoid using point for. Please write all the sentences in paragraph form.  

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have addressed all my concerns.