Impact of Green Technology Innovation on Green Economy: Evidence from China
, Danli Du 1, Tiansen Liu 1,*, Yue Zhu 2, Dongxue Yang 2, Yuan Huang 2 and Fan Meng 2
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsMDPI - Sustainability - 10.3390
Although many scientists write their articles in the first person, I still adhere to the classical school, where articles should be impersonal. I suggest revising the entire article.
I suggest reviewing the keywords “fixed-effect model” and “threshold effect model”, analyzing their suppression, so as not to restrict the location of the article via metadata search.
Lines 58-65. Was there a systematic literature review or scientometrics for the statement that there is little data on the number of digital economy articles? Was the data used secondary?
I suggest a definition, even if simplified, of the concept of the digital economy, in order to make it easier for neophytes in the field to read the article.
Line 93. Term “Few scholars”, seems vague for a scientific article, revise the wording and, if possible, since there are few, specify.
Lines 96-103. Redundancy in the term Study and studies.
Line 1590 1600. With laws of ecological economics? Anthropocentric? Ecocentric? Chinese? International? Doctrinary predictions?
Why weren't social elements considered as variables in the modeling of the Green economy level?
Explain in detail the time and geographical scope (2007-2021), why not 2024? And 34 provinces?
Would it be possible to replace the tables with images (graphs)? I think it would give the reader a better understanding.
Line 6470. Conclusions - revise the number (3) at the beginning of the paragraph.
I congratulate the authors on their work.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.doc
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments:
1. Suggest merging and streamlining the introduction and literature review.
2. When describing the interaction between green technology innovation and the digital economy, this article uses cross terms as a measurement standard. Is this method sufficient to prove its interaction? Please explain its working principle.
3. Assuming that in Hypothesis3(H3), the moderating effect of the threshold variable digital economy is a positive promoting effect, is it too singular? It is recommended to expand the magnitude and positivity of the effects of different thresholds.
4. The empirical analysis of threshold effects in this article is only reflected in the regression analysis table. Can the threshold points be more intuitively displayed through graphics or other means?
5. Why does the impact of green technology innovation on the green economy weaken after the digital economy exceeds the second threshold? Please elaborate on the reasons in detail.
6. The fixed effects model is suitable for studying time invariant individual differences, but why not consider the random effects model? Please analyze the applicability and advantages and disadvantages of the two models, and explain the specific reasons for choosing the fixed effects model.
7. The definition of each variable in Table 3 is relatively vague, please improve the table.
8. Regarding regional heterogeneity, more specific policy recommendations should be proposed, such as which regions should prioritize the development of green technology innovation and which regions should prioritize the development of digital economy.
9. It is suggested to further explore the impact mechanism of green technology innovation and digital economy on the sustainable development of green economy, such as how they affect economic structural adjustment, energy consumption patterns, environmental pollution emissions, and other aspects.
10. Improve the writing standards of the paper, including language expression, chart making, reference format, etc.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview of the Manuscript:
"Impact of Green Technology Innovation on Green Economy: Evidence from China"
The study aims to uncover the influence patterns of green technology innovation and the digital economy on the sustainability of the green economy. The authors examine data from 34 provincial administrative regions of China using fixed-effect and threshold effect models.
The authors investigate the direct correlation among green technology innovation, the digital economy, and the green economy. They attempt to reveal the patterns of influence that green technology innovation exerts on the green economy, with special attention to the dual threshold effect model. The article highlights that the interaction between variables may exhibit significant variations depending on threshold levels.
Overall, the article addresses a highly important topic with potential for publication. However, the lack of a comprehensive description of the database and study design prevents a full evaluation of the validity of the results.
Comments and Suggestions for Authors:
Clarification of Statements:
The authors state: “Green technology innovation holds the potential to offer crucial technical support to bolster the green economy [20]. It adheres to ecological principles and the laws of ecological economics, aiming to conserve resources, energy, and minimize pollution and ecological damage. The process of green technology innovation includes 'pollution-free' or 'pollution-less' technologies and products that strive to reduce ecological impact [21]. Moreover, substantial investment in technical components is necessary for the green economy to thrive [22].”
Additionally, they note, “the role of the digital economy within the nexus of green technology innovation and the green economy is imperative for optimizing these dynamics.”
These statements are not sufficiently supported by the text of the article. Please provide a clearer and more accurate formulation of the study design to align with these claims.
Hypothesis Reformulation:
Hypothesis 1 (H1) states: “Green technology innovation has a positive impact on the sustainability of the green economy.” This is a general and self-evident statement that does not require empirical testing.
Please consider reformulating Hypothesis 1 to make it more specific and innovative, focusing on aspects that require proof or new insight.
Empirical Basis of the Study:
The authors state: “By utilizing panel data from 34 provincial administrative regions of China between 2007 and 2021, a comprehensive and in-depth analysis becomes attainable. The data from the last 15 years represent the most up-to-date and relevant information available. Previous scholars have conducted limited research on this specific time period [29].”
However, the empirical basis of the study is insufficiently described. Please expand on the data selection process, including detailed explanations of the variables, sampling methods, and how the time frame contributes to the originality of the study. The current description raises many questions and confusion.
Editing for Style and Structure:
Please revise the manuscript to conform to standard academic style and formatting guidelines. Careful editing will enhance the clarity and professionalism of the paper
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authorsnone
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have done a great job of revising the manuscript. In its corrected form, the article can be recommended for publication. paper.
