Spatial Pattern Evolution of the Manufacturing Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and Its Impact on PM2.5
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This study employs multiple data sources and utilizes various analytical methods to investigate the spatial pattern characteristics and evolution process of the manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. By establishing an economic model, we explore the impact of the manufacturing industry on PM2.5 pollution and propose policy recommendations for optimizing industrial structure and promoting industrial ecological development. The research not only addresses a meaningful and important topic with policy implications but also demonstrates a well-organized structure and content. Therefore, I suggest making some minor modifications.
(1) The introduction section requires refinement to enhance its quality. For instance, in the second paragraph, both (2) and (3) discuss the spatial characteristics and influencing factors of the manufacturing industry, resulting in redundancy. We recommend supplementing the explanation of the effects generated by the agglomeration of the manufacturing industry. Moreover, it is advisable to avoid merely listing existing research. We encourage the authors to incorporate additional literature reviews to address research gaps and align with the study's objectives.
(2) The second chapter should include an introduction to the study area, which will contribute to a more comprehensive article. We suggest providing a concise overview of the natural, economic, and social development of the study area to enhance readers' understanding and highlight the significance of selecting this specific region for investigation.
(3) The discussion section requires further elaboration to underscore the significance of this study. Analyzing the characteristics of the case study area and comparing them with other regions can demonstrate the uniqueness and generalizability of the research findings, thereby enhancing the credibility and generalizability of the research conclusions and policy recommendations.
(4) The policy recommendations need further revision. While the current recommendations are valuable and instructive, they appear to be overly macro-level. We recommend providing more targeted policy recommendations for different industries and regions based on the research findings. This approach will enhance the practical significance of the study and its applicability in diverse contexts.
(5) Please revise the Chinese text in Figure 3 accordingly.
This study employs multiple data sources and utilizes various analytical methods to investigate the spatial pattern characteristics and evolution process of the manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. By establishing an economic model, we explore the impact of the manufacturing industry on PM2.5 pollution and propose policy recommendations for optimizing industrial structure and promoting industrial ecological development. The research not only addresses a meaningful and important topic with policy implications but also demonstrates a well-organized structure and content. Therefore, I suggest making some minor modifications.
(1) The introduction section requires refinement to enhance its quality. For instance, in the second paragraph, both (2) and (3) discuss the spatial characteristics and influencing factors of the manufacturing industry, resulting in redundancy. We recommend supplementing the explanation of the effects generated by the agglomeration of the manufacturing industry. Moreover, it is advisable to avoid merely listing existing research. We encourage the authors to incorporate additional literature reviews to address research gaps and align with the study's objectives.
(2) The second chapter should include an introduction to the study area, which will contribute to a more comprehensive article. We suggest providing a concise overview of the natural, economic, and social development of the study area to enhance readers' understanding and highlight the significance of selecting this specific region for investigation.
(3) The discussion section requires further elaboration to underscore the significance of this study. Analyzing the characteristics of the case study area and comparing them with other regions can demonstrate the uniqueness and generalizability of the research findings, thereby enhancing the credibility and generalizability of the research conclusions and policy recommendations.
(4) The policy recommendations need further revision. While the current recommendations are valuable and instructive, they appear to be overly macro-level. We recommend providing more targeted policy recommendations for different industries and regions based on the research findings. This approach will enhance the practical significance of the study and its applicability in diverse contexts.
(5) Please revise the Chinese text in Figure 3 accordingly.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The issue discussed in the article is relevant and interesting from a methodological perspective. However, the text should be adjusted to meet the requirements of a scientific publication, especially in terms of structure. The paper should include the following sections: Introduction / Literature Review / Research Methodology / Results / Discussions / Conclusions / References.
The literature review is missing, and the introduction is too extensive.
The research objective should be clearly formulated in the introduction (it should also be included in the abstract).
The text lacks hypothesis/hypotheses (it/they can be derived from the literature review or included in the introduction).
All methods and sources of information should be described in the methodology section, and the analytical (calculation) procedure should be more detailed (with the indication of the program in which the calculations were made).
The study consists of two parts (1. Spatial-temporal pattern in the manufacturing industry and 2. Environmental effects of air pollution in the manufacturing industry). The methodology section should indicate the connection between them (i.e., whether and how the results from the first part were used to prepare the second part).
The subheadings (3.1., 3.2., 3.3.) should be rephrased as they resemble conclusions rather than titles.
The text requires further refinement as it contains incomprehensible sentences, e.g., lines 292-294: Attention should be paid not only to the coordination of development within the region but also to the coordination of development within the region.
Figure 3 should be labelled as a table, not a figure (the table headers still contain non-English characters).
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Review report for Sustainability
Article code: sustainability-2487595
Spatial Pattern Evolution of Manufacturing Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and its Impact on PM2.5
Summary
The article aims to detect the spatial pattern characteristics of the manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and gives an econometric model to analyze the impact of the manufacturing industry on PM2.5 by using GIS spatial tools. It studies the effects of the spatial pattern of the manufacturing industry on PM2.5 via a spatiotemporal approach that is valuable. However, the work has some lacks as follows.
Abstract
The methodology has been missed in this section. Mentioning some tolls does not imply the methodology particularly whenever research has a compound approach to the analysis of a spatial phenomenon.
Some statements are vague and need to be clearly stated (e.g. The manufacturing industry exerts a significant positive impact on PM2.5 pollution in lines 19 and 20or ecological development of industries in the last line of the Abstract)
Introduction
I strongly suggest authors set a compelling multidiscipline argument in this section as the subject is moving between three theoretical grounds of geography, economy, and environment, thus developing an analytical framework for the research is needed.
After developing an analytical framework, the spatial-geographic theories along with economics theories of space must be needed to be discussed in a separate section (literature review)
An analytical model of the research can help us to comprehend the research concern, particularly in terms of the effects of economic activities on the environment which is supposed to be detected through spatial tools.
PM2.5 needs to be explained since it is one of the most important air pollutants that is a concern for people's health when levels in the air are high.
Results
The written structure of the article is somehow vague and hard to understand clearly. Therefore, it is highly recommended the overall structure of the paper needs to be improved by redefining the heading and subheadings. For instance, results, spatial results, economic results, environmental results, etc.
It is hard to follow the results of section “4. Environmental effects of air pollution in the manufacturing industry” since the results are not depicted through spatial maps like the authors did in the previous section (3. Spatial-temporal pattern in the manufacturing industry). As a result, one cannot comprehend the PM2.5 increase or decrease in the study area.
More importantly, it is expected from the research that spatially points out the increasing/decreasing of PM2.5 through a temporal approach in the study area. Therefore these highly recommended authors delineate the spatial results of manufacturing agglomerations on the PM2.5 quantity during 20 years of the study.
Discussion and conclusion
I recommend discussion comes first and after compelling arguments on the spatial, economic, and environmental consequences of manufactured agglomerations in the study area, the conclusion can be organized. It is also highly recommended authors compare their spatial and environmental results to others' findings in the area in the discussion section so as to highlight their contributions
It would be more beneficial if authors refer to places when proposing policy recommendations as the study area include vast regions with different socio-economic and spatial characteristics.
The written English language of the article is weak and needs to be improved by a professional English editor.
The written English language of the article is weak and needs to be improved by a professional English editor.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
For direct references like Fang et al. the number should be shown in front of it, so that it could be differentiated from other references if they are to be added.
The use of different regression models must be discussed for its differences, and which one is selected and why must be discussed by the end of results chapter.
Following study can be explored to justify the use of quadratic variable in the model. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01165-3
Post regression validation tests must be added.
Symbols needed to be discussed when they are first used in the study.
Conclusion and policy implications must direct the policy to relevant stakeholders, future research direction must be provided.
Proofreading of the document must be conducted to remove errors like yearwas in line 305.
Data sources and their units are not clarified in the study.
Table 3 did not include the normality tests to ensure the is suitable for inference.
figure 4 could also include the quadratic fit to see if there is no bending in the line to rule out misspecification.
there are about 16 years per cross section (ID) did author tried to investigate the presence of serial correlation of data sets. which may render the model spurious.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors revised the article according to the comments from the previous review. However, due to the still present errors, the text should be proofread before publishing.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Although the article has been improved, the following comments have yet to be addressed.
Comment 6; the increasing/decreasing of PM2.5 through a temporal approach needs to be analyzed since the authors have a section named 4. A spatial-temporal pattern in the MI
Comment 4; An analytical model of the research can help us to comprehend the research concern, particularly in terms of the effects of economic activities on the environment which is supposed to be detected through spatial tools.
Minor editing of the English language required
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
