Does Air Pollution Influence the Settlement Intention of the Floating Population in China? Individual Heterogeneity and City Characteristics

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for authors

This manuscript assesses the influences of air quality on the settlement intentions of the floating population and analyzes their influencing factors, which are important for urban sustainable development. The study fits in the main theme of the journal, but still requires revisions. Some suggestions and comments are as follows.

1.      In the introduction, the description of urbanization and the negative impact of environmental pollution on people’s lives and health is not linked to the topic of the settlement intention of the floating population. The rationale for why there is a need to investigate the impact of air pollution on the settlement intention of the floating population is not clearly presented. The significance of the research topic should be explained in more detail in the introduction.

2.      The authors need to unify the different terminologies in the paper, such as the “share of tertiary industry” and the “share of three industry”.

3.      Data processing is not introduced.

4.      Please explain the criteria for the selection of indicators to represent air pollution, individual heterogeneity and city characteristics. The authors could consider combining the literature review with indicators selection.

5.      Line 259, authors claim that the floating population mainly flows from economically developed areas to economically developed areas. Please double check the sentence.

 

 

Author Response

Dear expert,

Thank you for your comments. According to your comments, we have revised the article.

The details are as follows.

 

Point 1: In the introduction, the description of urbanization and the negative impact of environmental pollution on people’s lives and health is not linked to the topic of the settlement intention of the floating population. The rationale for why there is a need to investigate the impact of air pollution on the settlement intention of the floating population is not clearly presented. The significance of the research topic should be explained in more detail in the introduction.

 

Response 1: In the introduction, we deleted some irrelevant topics. It supplements the research significance of air pollution the settlement intention of the floating population.The revised content is in line 34-85.

 

Point 2: The authors need to unify the different terminologies in the paper, such as the “share of tertiary industry” and the “share of three industry”.

 

Response 2: The different terminologies in the paper are unified, for example, "share of the tertiary industry" "share of the tertiary industry" are unified as “share of tertiary industry”.

 

Point 3: Data processing is not introduced.

 

Response 3: The data section complements the data processing and adds descriptive statistical analysis(LINE 316-372, revised format).

 

Point 4: Please explain the criteria for the selection of indicators to represent air pollution, individual heterogeneity and city characteristics. The authors could consider combining the literature review with indicators selection.

 

Response 4: We have revised the literature according your comments.The literature is divided into three parts, and research hypotheses are added in each part(LINE 110-235, revised format).

 

Point 5: Line 259, authors claim that the floating population mainly flows from economically developed areas to economically developed areas. Please double check the sentence.

 

Response 5: We checked the relevant sentences.For example, “flows from economically developed areas to economically developed areas”is revised to “Compared with developing regions, the developed areas are more attractive to the floating population”.

Reviewer 2 Report

The interesting study of the effects of air pollution on the settlement intention of the Floating Population in China was carried out by using the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey Data (CMDS) and the satellite grid data of global PM2.5 concentration.

I have a few observations:

1. There is a lack of justification as to why PM2.5 should be chosen from the entire range of air pollutants in the atmosphere to assess the settlement intention of the floating population in China. Why have the aerosol particles of this particular size been chosen for the analysis? What are the main sources of PM2.5 particles in China and what are the effects of the aerosol particles of this size on human health?

2. How does this study differ from other similar studies of air pollution on the settlement intention of the floating population in China?

3. It should be explained why only the influence of wind speed (disregarding the role of ambient temperature, humidity or other meteorological parameters) has been taken into account when modelling the influence of PM2.5 on the settlement intention of the floating population in China.

4. An explanation as to why 2017 data have been chosen for the analysis is missing. I would suggest to expand the study and conduct a comparative analysis of the influence of PM2.5 on the settlement intention of the floating population in China before the pandemic and during the pandemic.

5. The references should be provided for in a uniform manner in accordance with the requirements set by the journal because now the titles of journals are given in full form, and in an abbreviated form interchangeably.

Author Response

Response 1: PM2.5 is one of the most important pollutants in air pollution, which has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the floating population. There are several reasons for choosing PM2.5 to represent air pollution. First, PM2.5 data obtained from county-level administrative units are more objective and accurate. Second, after the nationwide haze weather in 2013, residents paid more attention to air pollution, especially PM2.5.Third, the study of the relationship between air quality and economic and social development has been widely recognized in the academic community by taking PM2.5 concentration as the proxy variable of air pollution(LINE 325-332, revised format).

Response 2: We added the marginal contribution of the study in the introduction(LINE 86-98, revised format).

Response 3: In the revision, we explained the details as follows,there are two reasons for this. On the one hand, the instrumental variable depends on the current wind speed of the county-level administrative unit and is determined by the meteorological conditions and geographical conditions. After controlling the variables at the urban level, it has no direct relationship with the population inflow in the region, and can meet the exogenous hypothesis of the instrumental variable. On the other hand, our research unit is a county-level administrative unit, and it is difficult to obtain the temperature, humidity and other meteorological data at this scale.(LINE 432-441, revised format).

Response 4: In the revision, we explained why we chose 2017 data. It is of great significance to compare and analyze the impact of PM2.5 on the settlement intention of Chinese floating population before and during the pandemic. Unfortunately, we cannot obtain the relevant data after the epidemic , and will continue to pay attention in the follow-up study.(LINE 285-302, revised format).

Response 5: The format of references has been unified according to the requirements of the journal.

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

This article is interesting, in attachment some advice how to improve the total quality this manuscript. Of some doubts, don't hesitate to ask me. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Response 1: 

(1)According to your comments, we rewrote the introduction(LINE 34-98, revised format).

(2)This part of unclear content has been revised(LINE 34-43, revised format).

(3)Some problems also exist in other countries, while others are more prominent in China. In this part, we have supplemented some documents on the situation of other countries(LINE 50-76, revised format).

(4)The unclear content has been deleted. See 3.1data for data introduction(LINE 286-314, revised format)

(5)Has been revised to "the below senior high school group and the high senior school or above group"

Response 2: 

We have revised the literature according your comments.The literature is divided into three parts, each of which has added a title and research hypothesis(LINE 111-235, revised format).

Response 3: 

Model equation has been added in 3.3 Empirical Strategy (LINE 374-385, revised format)

Response 4: 

Table 1 has been placed in 3.2 Variable Selection (LINE 370, revised format), and the table contents have been adjusted according to your requirements.

Response 5: 

The discussion part has been greatly revised, many new references have been added, and the findings and results of this study have been compared and analyzed(LINE 610-642, revised format).

Response 6: 

We summarized the research results around individual differences and city characteristics(LINE 685-705, revised format).

According to the research results, we summarized three impacts, which are of certain significance for policy formulation and practice(LINE 706-721, revised format).

We supplemented the research deficiencies and further research directions, and this part was adjusted to the discussion part(LINE 643-654, revised format).

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Revisions made are acceptable and have addressed my concerns. 

Reviewer 3 Report

Thank you, well done.