High-Speed Railway Opening, Industrial Symbiotic Agglomeration and Green Sustainable Development—Empirical Evidence from China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper examines the impact of the opening of high-speed rail on the sustainable development of the regional green economy. The study selects data from 31provinces spanning in China, from 1999 to 2019 and utilizes the double difference method to assess this impact. Additionally, the paper explores the mechanism of industrial symbiosis and agglomeration in relation to the opening of high-speed rail and economic development. However, there are several problems as follows：
The time range studied in this paper is from 1999 to 2019, why? Is the beginning of the development of China's high-speed rail in 1999? In addition, it's already 2024, and 2019 has been four years since then.
As the authors note in their conclusion ‘we should strengthen regional planning and increase the number of high-speed rail lines in underdeveloped areas’. In my opinion, the planning of high-speed rail lines may take into account many factors, such as population density, urban economy, regional environment, etc. In underdeveloped areas, it can be supplemented by road transportation, and it is not necessary to build high-speed rail lines.
Author Response
- The time range of this paper is from 1999 to 2019. Why? In addition, it's now 2024, years old, and 2019 is four years old.
Dear reviewer, thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule for your article. We add the following amendments to the article based on your suggestions: The real starting point of China's high-speed railway was in 1990 when the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway Line Plan Concept Report was officially completed that year. Later, around whether to build a high-speed railway, what standard to build a standard high-speed railway, when to start the construction of the high-speed railway, "construction party", "delayed construction", and "maglev" had a protracted war of public opinion. This stage began in 1990 and ended in 1998, mainly in the ideological enlightenment stage of high-speed rail.
On August 16, 1999, China's first high-speed railway shen (Yang) passenger center (404 km, 200 km / h) started construction (officially opened on October 12, 2003). Qin and Shenyang passenger railway is a milestone in the development history of China's railway. It is the starting point of China's high-speed railway. It is the first fast railway passenger dedicated line of 200 kilometers per hour. During this period, it also experienced the research and development peak of domestic EMU and produced a large number of excellent domestic EMU models represented by China Star and Pioneer Blue Arrow. Therefore, the time range chosen for this study started in 1999.
The reason why the year selected in this study ended in 2019 was the outbreak of COVID-19 in China in 2020. During these three years, the epidemic had a serious impact on the construction of high-speed rail and residential travel in China. In particular, the national grounding regulations, namely "not necessary, do not go out", had a great impact on this study. Therefore, this study finalized the years 1999 – 2019.
- As the authors point out in their conclusion, "We should strengthen regional planning and increase the number of high-speed rail lines in less developed areas". In my opinion, the planning of high-speed rail lines may take into account many factors, such as population density, urban economy, regional environment, and so on. In less developed areas, it can be supplemented by road transportation, without the need to build high-speed rail lines.
Hello reviewer, you are right. We need to pay attention to many considerations in the planning of high-speed rail lines, such as population density, urban economy, regional environment, etc. While strengthening regional planning, the less developed areas can be supplemented by road transport, without the need to build high-speed rail lines.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper conducted an in-depth study on the impact of China's high-speed rail opening on economic sustainable development. It used appropriate data and methods for analysis. The research results show that the opening of high-speed rail has a positive impact on economic sustainable development, which is of great significance for guiding future transportation infrastructure construction and economic development. Overall, this paper provides valuable research results in the fields of high-speed rail development and economic sustainable development.
1.However, the paper also has some limitations, such as a relatively small sample size and limitations in data sources. It is recommended that future research can expand the sample size, conduct in-depth exploration of the heterogeneity of industrial symbiosis aggregation in different industries, and further study the spatial spillover effects of high-speed rail opening on regional economic sustainable development.
2.The variables in the formulas should be standardized, for example, the variables in Eq.17 should be in italics. Similar errors exist in other formulas.
3.Fig.2 is missing horizontal and vertical axes.
Author Response
- However, the paper also has some limitations, such as the relatively small sample size and the limitations of the data sources. It is suggested that future studies can expand the sample size, deeply explore the heterogeneity of industrial symbiotic convergence in different industries, and further study the spatial spillover effect of the opening of high-speed rail on the sustainable development of the regional economy.
Hello to the reviewer, your advice is very pioneering and novel to us. The sample and data source of this article are one of the limitations of this study. We will expand the sample size in future studies, deeply explore the heterogeneity of industrial symbiotic convergence in different industries, and further study the spatial spillover effect of high-speed rail opening on the sustainable development of the regional economy.
- Variables in the formula should be standardized, for example, those in equation 17 should be italic. Similar errors exist for the other formulas.
The reviewer, you are right, we have revised this and incrementally proofread the formula.
- Figure 2 lacks both the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.
Hello reviewer, we noticed the error in Figure 2 and revised it.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPersonally, I found the article well structured and deeply interesting.
Theoretical framework and methodology are clearly state and the logical path followed by authors is very well presented. Authors state that data available are limited but this does not affect the analysis carried on. Conclusions are coherent and supported by the whole path followed throughout the article.
The issue at the core of the article is up to date and in line with cogent challenges at chinese national level as well as at global one.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageEnglish language is of high quality.
Author Response
Thank you very much for the reviewer's affirmation. Your encouragement is the biggest affirmation of our team. We will spare no effort to revise and proofread the article incrementally.
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI am pleased to review the manuscript titled "High-speed Railway Opening, Industrial Symbiotic Agglomeration, and Green Sustainable Development - Empirical Evidence from China." This manuscript provides a substantial contribution by meticulously analyzing the association between the inauguration of high-speed railways and green sustainable development, utilizing the Green Sustainability Index. Moreover, the authors have conducted a heterogeneity analysis across different regions and a mechanism test with industrial symbiotic agglomeration serving as a mediating variable. Overall, the manuscript adheres to a good academic standard. Nonetheless, I have several comments to offer as follows.
Section 1. Introduction: The authors suggest that previous research has not adequately focused on the impact of high-speed railways on green and sustainable growth. However, I find the literature review in this manuscript to be somewhat lacking. I recommend that the authors incorporate additional literature that examines the influence of high-speed railways on green growth or environmental sustainability. This would enhance the validity of the research's contributions. An example of potential literature to include is "Shen, Q., Pan, Y., & Feng, Y. (2023). The impacts of high-speed railway on environmental sustainability: quasi-experimental evidence from China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10, 1-19," among others.
Section 4. Empirical Results and Analysis: Despite the primary focus on high-speed railways, the explanation of the findings regarding the effect of education in Table 3 (and Table 4 for the Eastern region) is surprisingly concerning, indicating that higher education impedes green sustainable development. Although education is considered as a control variable, its significance in terms of policy recommendations should not be underestimated. The manuscript requires clearer explanations for these unexpected findings, or to address potential econometric issues.
Section 5. Mechanism Test: The authors posit that industrial symbiotic agglomeration significantly influences the relationship between high-speed rail and green sustainable development as a mediating variable. This section should be expanded to include more discussions on the rationale behind this hypothesis, drawing upon existing literature. The impact of high-speed railways on industrial agglomeration is known to vary; hence, further discussion on related studies and justifications supporting the hypothesis on industrial symbiotic agglomeration is necessary.
Section 6.2 Spatial Spillover Effects: The paragraph following Equation 17 is riddled with typos and missing symbols, which need correction.
Section 7. Conclusion and Implications: The authors conclude that the advent of high-speed rail in China's central and western regions fosters the holistic, environmentally friendly, and sustainable economic development. Consequently, they advocate for a policy focus on expanding high-speed railway construction in these areas. However, empirical findings from Table 4 (Heterogeneity analysis: regional analysis) suggest that high-speed rail does not significantly impact the western region. Furthermore, results in Table 7 (Time lag effect) indicate that high-speed rail has no significant effect on both central and western regions, leading to confusion. This section requires clearer explanations to resolve these discrepancies.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageOverall, the English usage is comprehensible. However, there are a few typographical errors, particularly in Section 6.2. Please review and revise the manuscript accordingly.
Author Response
Section 1. The authors argue that previous studies have not adequately focused on the impact of HSR on green and sustainable growth. However, I found the literature review in this manuscript somewhat lacking. I recommend that the authors include more literature on the impact of HSR on green growth or environmental sustainability. This will improve the validity of the research contributions. An example of the potential literature to be included is " Shen, Q., Pan, Y., & Feng, Y. (2023). The impact of HSR on environmental sustainability: quasi-experimental evidence from China. Humanities and Social Science Communication, 10,1-19 " et al.
Hello reviewer, your advice is very useful to us, and we have not only added " Shen, Q., Pan, Y., & Feng, Y. (2023). The impacts of high-speed railway on environmental sustainability: quasi-experimental evidence from China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10,1-19 "example, with the addition of" Pan, J. Y. (2024). Understanding high-speed rail users in the US Environmental and sustainability perspectives. Travel Behaviour and Society, 34,100670. "and" Sun, Y., Razzaq, A., Kizys, R., & Bao, Q. (2022). High-speed rail and urban green productivity: the mediating role of climatic conditions in China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 185,122055. " Literature, further enriching the literature.
Section 4. Empirical Results and Analysis: Despite focusing on high-speed rail, the interpretation of the findings on the impact of education in Table 3 (and Table 4 in the Eastern region) is surprisingly worrying, suggesting that higher education is hindering green and sustainable development. Although education is seen as a controlling variable, its importance in terms of policy recommendations should not be underestimated. Manuscripts require a clearer interpretation of these unexpected findings or address underlying econometric issues.
Hello reviewers, table 3 of the interpretation of the results of education influence is worrying, therefore, we made the following improvement, for the measure of education, we use the ordinary higher education school enrollment and the ratio of the total population, but with the number of measurement has a certain bias, it is not directly measured regional education level and education investment, therefore, this study refers to related research, using the ratio of regional education expenditure compared to finance, make the education results more accurate.
Section 5. Mechanism test: The author believes that industrial symbiosis and agglomeration have a significant impact on the relationship between high-speed rail and green and sustainable development, which is a mediating variable. This section should be expanded based on the existing literature to include more discussion of the rationale behind this hypothesis. As we all know, the influence of high-speed railways on industrial agglomeration is different; therefore, it is necessary to further discuss the relevant research and reasons supporting the hypothesis of industrial symbiosis and agglomeration.
Hello, reviewer, this study is inadequate for the intermediary variable of industrial symbiosis and agglomeration. Thank you for your kind reminder! This study adds content and references to the literature:
Section 6.2. As a new form of industrial organization, there is still a lack of research on how the intermediary variable affects the opening of high-speed rail and the growth of the green economy (Liu et al., 2022). With the acceleration of the industrialization process, environmental pollution problems are also spread all over China. As a clean means of transportation, high-speed rail has replaced the traditional transportation mode of gas-powered cars and buses, which is conducive to the study of green and sustainable development of cities. Industrial development presents a new feature of "interlinked, agglomeration and symbiosis" (Liu et al., 2023). However, in how to balance environmental protection and economic growth, the existing industrial symbiosis theory seems to solve the actual needs at this stage (Menato et al., 2017). As Chertow et al. (2008) said, strengthening the theoretical connection between symbiosis and agglomeration and empirically testing the benefits of symbiosis in agglomeration is an important future research direction. In addition, there are few existing studies on how the opening of high-speed rail affects the green and sustainable development of cities through industrial symbiosis and agglomeration. Therefore, this paper will study how the opening of high-speed rail affects the green and sustainable development of cities through industrial symbiosis and agglomeration.
1.Liu, J., Qian, Y., Song, S. F., & Duan, R. R. (2022). Industrial symbiotic agglomeration and green economic growth: A spatial difference-in-differences approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 364, 132560.
2. Liu, J., Qian, Y., Yin, T., & Song, S. (2023). Does industrial symbiotic agglomeration reduce pollution emissions: evidence from eco-industrial demonstration parks in China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(51), 111441-111458.
3.Menato, S., Carimati, S., Montini, E., Innocenti, P., Canetta, L., & Sorlini, M. (2017, June). Challenges for the adoption of industrial symbiosis approaches within industrial agglomerations. In 2017 International Conference on engineering, technology, and innovation (ICE/ITMC) (pp. 1293-1299). IEEE.
4. Chertow, M. R., Ashton, W. S., & Espinosa, J. C. (2008). Industrial symbiosis in Puerto Rico: Environmentally related agglomeration economies. Regional studies, 42(10), 1299-1312.
Section 6.2 Spatial Splovers: The paragraphs following Equation 17 are filled with typos and missing symbols that need to be corrected.
Hello reviewer, we corrected the typos and missing symbols for the paragraphs following Equation 17 and examined the full text.
Section 7. Conclusion and Enlightenment: The author believes that the emergence of high-speed rail in central and western China has promoted overall, environmentally friendly and sustainable economic development. Therefore, they advocated a policy focus on expanding the construction of high-speed railroads in these areas. However, the empirical results in Table 4 (heterogeneity analysis: Regional analysis) show that HSR has little impact on the western region. Moreover, the results in Table 7 (time delay effect) indicate that HSR has no significant effect on the central and western regions, causing confounding. A clearer explanation is needed in this section to address these differences.
Dear reviewer, the empirical results in Table 4 (heterogeneity analysis: regional analysis) show that high-speed rail has little impact on the western region, and the results in Table 7 (time delay effect) show that high-speed rail has no significant effect on the central and western regions. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is revised to read: the emergence of high-speed rail in central and western China has not promoted environmentally friendly and sustainable economic development, and the reason may be that the construction of high-speed rail in central and western China is not as smooth as in the eastern region. Considering the population density, urban economy, regional environment, and other factors, the cost performance of high-speed railway construction in the central and western regions is not as high as that in the east, so it is necessary to pay attention to the construction of the high-speed railway in non-central and western regions. It is suggested to read: while strengthening regional planning, in underdeveloped areas, it can be supplemented by road transportation, without the need to build high-speed rail lines. And in the full text.
Comments on the English language quality
Overall, the English usage is understandable. However, there are some typographical errors, especially in Section 6.2. Please review and revise the manuscript accordingly.
Hello reviewer, we conducted rigorous language quality monitoring in Section 6.2 and an incremental review and revision of other sections of the article.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have revised the manuscript based on the comments, and the manuscript can be considered for publication.
Author Response
Dear anonymous reviewer:
Thank you very much for your great support and soft heart, I wish your paper will be accepted in each submissions and you will be awarded the key of national foundation project everytime.
Yours sincerely，
Haonan Chen
