Is It Possible to Tackle Youth Needs with Agricultural and Rural Development Policies?
, Aleksandra Nikolić 1, Emelj Tuna 2, Ivana Janeska Stamenkovska 2, Vesela Radović 3, Paul Flynn 4 and Veronica McCauley 4Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors carried out an interesting analysis of the employment level of rural NEET as a function of the effects of agricultural policy. In my opinion, some methodological aspects need to be investigated.
The choice of Ireland as the representative country of the EU has to be better explained. What are the characteristics of this country that make it representative?
The manuscript does not contain references to the descriptive analysis used. The method of investigation must be specified. In similar researches, quantitative longitudinal study, qualitative comparative approach, a mixed methodology involving quantitative and qualitative methods or the SWOT analysis have been adopted.
Authors should address the effects of training system and social agriculture on NEET's employment, which have greatly contributed to creating jobs in the EU countries in last decades.
A further element that has had an impact on youth employment is the EU's policy of delaying the retirement of older groups of workers, which has reduced employment opportunities for rural NEET.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: The authors carried out an interesting analysis of the employment level of rural NEET as a function of the effects of agricultural policy. In my opinion, some methodological aspects need to be investigated.
The choice of Ireland as the representative country of the EU has to be better explained. What are the characteristics of this country that make it representative?
Response 1: Thank you for your comments and feedback. Additional explanation provided.
Ireland was chosen in particular, as an example of an established EU member state with over 50% of its population living in rural areas. Ireland scores above the EU-28 average across a number of factors that influence the prevalence of rural NEETs. Between 2009-2019 Ireland has introduced a number of macro to micro level actions that have had a positive impact on unemployment figures with the target group and that establish this country as a benchmark standard for tackling challenges associated with rural disadvantage, in particular, challenges associated with being a rural NEET.
Point 2: The manuscript does not contain references to the descriptive analysis used. The method of investigation must be specified. In similar researches, quantitative longitudinal study, qualitative comparative approach, a mixed methodology involving quantitative and qualitative methods or the SWOT analysis have been adopted.
Response 2: References provided for descriptive analysis– row 135.
Additional method provided together with additional explanation. Row 164
A linear regression model is used to determine whether the rural NEET indicator depends on other factors (rural unemployment, rural employment, gross domestic product, and the youth population aged 15-24). However, because this model does not provide information on how strongly the variables are related, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, calculated for each country, is employed for analysis of the relationship among the employment-related and the macroeconomic indicators [25].
Point 3: Authors should address the effects of training system and social agriculture on NEET's employment, which have greatly contributed to creating jobs in the EU countries in last decades.
A further element that has had an impact on youth employment is the EU's policy of delaying the retirement of older groups of workers, which has reduced employment opportunities for rural NEET.
Response 3: Role of training system as well as agricultural and complementary activities (social agriculture included, and all other forms of innovative business models included), as …youth tend to be more productive and innovative… were addressed in paper.
Initially we were thinking about the issue of delaying the retirement of older people, then we found out that the issue of greying of Europe is also emphasized recently, and we do not want to diminish this issue while magnifying the issue of youth NEET.
Reviewer 2 Report
There are a few issues that should be resolved or clarified:
-the reference (8) in 67th row is not directly related to the content of the sentence that begins in 64th. Besides, the age group selected in eurostat is 15-34 while you are writing primarily about age group 15-24 (at least until then)
- why Ireland as a contrast...? It is not quite clear. You state "Furthermore, it is important to point out successfully applied public policies which contribute to the decrease of NEET share in total population, such as policies in Ireland, which has similar political, economic and social problems." Do you imply that Ireland has similar political, economic and social problems as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia? I wouldn't agree. Young people are leaving Western Balkans for Ireland not because it is similar to their homeland, on contrary. Moreover it is socioculturally different context, not only economically and politically.
- please provide reference for "The rural areas in North Macedonia cover around 88.70% of the territory and 47.50% of the total population, in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is even higher with 91.94% of the territory as rural areas and 67.05% of the total population living there, while the rural population living in the rural areas of Serbia comprise 39% of the total population." ----- I cannot seem to find these data in"(6,26)"
- "Figure 1. Employment rates (a)in rural areas, (b) at national level, Unemployment rates (c)in rural areas (d) at national level, age 256
15-24, 2010-2019, in %" - in the figure 1 unemployment rates are (a) and (b), and employment rates are (c) and (d) -
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: There are a few issues that should be resolved or clarified:
-the reference (8) in 67th row is not directly related to the content of the sentence that begins in 64th. Besides, the age group selected in eurostat is 15-34 while you are writing primarily about age group 15-24 (at least until then)
Response 1: Thank you for your comments. We focus on age group 15-24, and all data used are focused on this age group, EUROSTAT explorer offer disaggregated data for this age group. However, ILO definition was used for defining young population according to their age.
Point 2: - why Ireland as a contrast...? It is not quite clear. You state "Furthermore, it is important to point out successfully applied public policies which contribute to the decrease of NEET share in total population, such as policies in Ireland, which has similar political, economic and social problems." Do you imply that Ireland has similar political, economic and social problems as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia? I wouldn't agree. Young people are leaving Western Balkans for Ireland not because it is similar to their homeland, on contrary. Moreover it is socioculturally different context, not only economically and politically.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment, we also find this part as weak. Additional explanation provided. Ireland was chosen in particular, as an example of an established EU member state with over 50% of its population living in rural areas. Ireland scores above the EU-28 average across a number of factors that influence the prevalence of rural NEETs. Between 2009-2019 Ireland has introduced a number of macro to micro level actions that have had a positive impact on unemployment figures with the target group and that establish this country as a benchmark standard for tackling challenges associated with rural disadvantage, in particular, challenges associated with being a rural NEET.
Point 3: please provide reference for "The rural areas in North Macedonia cover around 88.70% of the territory and 47.50% of the total population, in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is even higher with 91.94% of the territory as rural areas and 67.05% of the total population living there, while the rural population living in the rural areas of Serbia comprise 39% of the total population." ----- I cannot seem to find these data in"(6,26)"
Response 3: Somehow, we miss to include reference. Reference included.
Point 4: "Figure 1. Employment rates (a)in rural areas, (b) at national level, Unemployment rates (c)in rural areas (d) at national level, age 256
15-24, 2010-2019, in %" - in the figure 1 unemployment rates are (a) and (b), and employment rates are (c) and (d) -
Response 4: Thank you for your suggestion. Revision done.
Reviewer 3 Report
I thank the authors for giving me the opportunity to read their interesting work, which I think can be improved in some parts.
I give some recommendations:
Row 38-39 “ Central to this is the 37 cohort of young people characterised as ‘Not in Employment, Education and Training’; NEET youths.” to insert source or citation
Row 90-91 the terms "dyatic" is not common
Row 117 the justification for using the Irish date is weak; is the comparison with Ireland relevant for the analysis?
Is the definition of rural areas for the countries concerned and for the EU the same?
The economic gap between rural and urban areas in the countries considered and the role of economic activities in these areas should be better highlighted
I invite the authors to take into account the role of the market and not just politics. For example, is there a demand for rural tourism? of local agricultural products? and so on. Rural development in Europe has been driven by these phenomena which create new, and sometimes more modern and attractive, job opportunities for young people in rural areas. It should be sufficient to introduce some general elements about this aspect without change the focus of the analysis.
The conclusions should include a comparison with other results known in the literature as well as the limits and future developments of the research
I also invite the authors to examine, and insert in the references, if not already done, the following documents
https://rnyobservatory.eu/web/National-Reports/NR-SERBIA-09-19.pdf
https://www.etf.europa.eu/sites/default/files/m/BFEEBA10DD412271C1257EED0035457E_NEETs.pdf
https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18213/#tabs|Name:overview
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ruLODwAAQBAJ&rdid=book-ruLODwAAQBAJ&rdot=1&source=gbs_vpt_read&pcampaignid=books_booksearch_viewport
https://wiiw.ac.at/western-balkans-labor-market-trends-2020-dlp-5300.pdf
https://wb-csf.eu/docs/CSF-PB-03-19-full-4.pdf.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1: I thank the authors for giving me the opportunity to read their interesting work, which I think can be improved in some parts.
I give some recommendations:
Row 38-39 “ Central to this is the 37 cohort of young people characterised as ‘Not in Employment, Education and Training’; NEET youths.” to insert source or citation
Response 1: Thank you for your comments and feedback. Reference included.
Point 2: Row 90-91 the terms "dyatic" is not common
Response 2: Grammar mistake, changed to “Dyadic impact”,
Point 3: Row 117 the justification for using the Irish date is weak; is the comparison with Ireland relevant for the analysis?
Response 3: Additional explanation provided. Ireland was chosen in particular, as an example of an established EU member state with over 50% of its population living in rural areas. Ireland scores above the EU-28 average across a number of factors that influence the prevalence of rural NEETs. Between 2009-2019 Ireland has introduced a number of macro to micro level actions that have had a positive impact on unemployment figures with the target group and that establish this country as a benchmark standard for tackling challenges associated with rural disadvantage, in particular, challenges associated with being a rural NEET.
Point 4: Is the definition of rural areas for the countries concerned and for the EU the same?
Response 4: No, they are not. Especially in case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But it is not changing the scope and aim of our study. However, general indicator - density of population is the same in EU and observed countries (population/km2).
Point 5: The economic gap between rural and urban areas in the countries considered and the role of economic activities in these areas should be better highlighted
I invite the authors to take into account the role of the market and not just politics. For example, is there a demand for rural tourism? of local agricultural products? and so on. Rural development in Europe has been driven by these phenomena which create new, and sometimes more modern and attractive, job opportunities for young people in rural areas. It should be sufficient to introduce some general elements about this aspect without change the focus of the analysis.
Response 5: Role of different economic sectors were highlighted in paper, in particular row 409 – development of tourism and recreation opportunities…, tourism workers, hiking…; then again in row 440 – tourism in rural areas, direct sale, crafts and trades, agricultural, forestry, tradition, souvenirs…
Point 6: The conclusions should include a comparison with other results known in the literature as well as the limits and future developments of the research
Response 6: Limitation and future developments indicated – row 458 - 462
Point 7: I also invite the authors to examine, and insert in the references, if not already done, the following documents
https://rnyobservatory.eu/web/National-Reports/NR-SERBIA-09-19.pdf
https://www.etf.europa.eu/sites/default/files/m/BFEEBA10DD412271C1257EED0035457E_NEETs.pdf
https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18213/#tabs|Name:overview
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ruLODwAAQBAJ&rdid=book-ruLODwAAQBAJ&rdot=1&source=gbs_vpt_read&pcampaignid=books_booksearch_viewport
https://wiiw.ac.at/western-balkans-labor-market-trends-2020-dlp-5300.pdf
https://wb-csf.eu/docs/CSF-PB-03-19-full-4.pdf.pdf
Response 7: Thank you for suggestions, in particular World Bank report was useful and added as a reference. We decide to avoid using national reports, CA18213 reports in general in excessive amount to prevent auto citation.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
I thank the authors for the responses to my comments and for the changes introduced in the new version of your manuscripts. I consider the improvements introduced to be satisfactory.
