Exploring the Impact of Financial Development on Water–Energy Efficiency in Western China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The  comments for the author has been updated in the attachment. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Please check your spellings and capitalization requirements. 

Author Response

Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for your great comments and suggestions on our paper. We have modified the manuscript accordingly.

Minor comments

1. SO2 to be SO₂(subscript 2)

Response:The authors have revised the SO2 to SO₂

2. Figure 1;
3. inside the picture the spelling is wrong for “region” in legend.

Response: The authors have revised it

1. I would strongly recommend using proper text coloring in the map (specially onblue highlights) they are not readable. Also the texts are not uniform and look likeone in the same font hence essential to maintain the uniformity.

Response:The authors have revised the since to Since

3. Section 2.1; It should be Since not since in the second line.

Response:The authors have revised the text coloring in the map into the style“Times New Roman”

4. Section 2.2:
5. Third line is Thus.

Response:The authors have revised the thus to Thus.

4. Table 1: RMB has been used multiple time earlier in the manuscript so I wouldrecommend to use RMD instead of Renminbi (RMB)

Response: The authors have consulted many relevant scholars, but they suggested using RMB. Therefore. We hope to continue using RMB.

6. Table 2; the top row, please make it more obvious eg: Ma? It looks like it is Max orMaximum, please ensure it is mentioned.

Response:The authors have revised the Ma to Max

7. There is a particular method of writing equations in manuscript, please follow thestandard (eg: equation written for perpetual inventory method)

Response:The authors have revised the writing equations in manuscript of perpetual inventory method, Model (1), Model (2), and Model (3)

8. Table 5; requires to be on the same page.

Response:The authors have revised the Table 5 in the same page.

9. Table 8; requires to be on same page

Response:The authors have revised the Table 8 in the same page.

10. Figure 2; similar comment to Figure 1 and spelling of Research is wrong.

Response:The authors have revised the Reasearch in the Figure 1 into Research

11. Figure 3: Can the x, y and z labels be better presented.

Response:The authors have tried to added the x, y, z labels into the Figure 3, but we failed to add that. We have used a new Figure 3 to more clearly show the change trend for WEE.

Technical Comments

1. Section 1: It needs revision.
2. It talks about the Western Development Program in China from 2000 which madetheeconomical revolution but fails to briefly highlight what was planned and what has been achieved on it.

Response: The authors have added the contents of Western Development Program in China in lines 31 to 43.

1. The activity of the research and brief highlight on past work has been mentionedbut this paper requires a stronger theoretical analysis to create a distinct picture compared to existing research.

Response: The authors have pointed out the deficiency of existing research literature, and find the thesis research direction and key in lines 60 to 63, and 70 to 77.

1. The activity and outcome has been mentioned in points (a), (b), etc. but it isprobably lagging in defining why the author is performing this analysis using asuperslacks- based model with undesirable outputs along with spatiotemporal characteristics. The future and applicability to be mapped in more clear form.

Response: The authors have pointed out the reasons for applying the superslacks- based model with undesirable outputs in lines 84 to 89.

2. Section 2.1;
3. The region behind selection of 11 provinces is required, are these onlyconsidered to be western provinces?

Response: With the implementation of the Western Development Program of China, Western China has achieved the significant economic growth. But it has inevitably led to the problems of both excessive consumption of resources and pollutant emissions. Therefore this paper selected the 11 provinces of Western China as the research areas (Tibet was not involved in the research objects), which are explained in lines 31 to 46, and 101 and 102.

1. “This has also caused serious pollution in the western region.” It's a very generaland probably irrelevant statement. Either needs a proper data supportedexplanation or worked accordingly.

Response: The authors have added the Figure 2 to show the growth trend for CO₂ emissions in Western China in lines 109 and 110.

5. Section 2.3; The selected indicator needs the foundation or reference. Please add to the 

Response: The authors have added the two references for selecting the indicators of calculating WEE in lines 135.

6. The conclusion includes multiple recommendations, but what is supporting therequirement of the policy reform, from your analysis is essential. It cannot generalize and present a normal point of view on the conclusion of the manuscript that is not supported by your analysis. Please revise the conclusion to include the analysis and outcomes and relate it to the recommendations. The recommendation is more suitable for your discussion portion than concluding your research.

Response: The authors have revised the main findings in lines 337 to 344, and the policy recommendations in lines 347 to 363, which are related to the main findings. We also have revised the future research prospects in lines 377 to 383.

7. Most important thing; the conclusion fails to explain How Does Financial Development

Affect Water-Energy Efficiency?

Response: The goal of this paper is to explore the impact of financial development on Water-Energy Efficiency in Western China, therefore we have revised the title of page to “Exploring the Impact of Financial Development on Water-Energy Efficiency in Western China”

The manuscript has been resubmitted to your journal now.

 

Regards

Zhongyun Zhang

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this paper, the authors investigated the financial development effect on Water-Energy Efficiency in Western China. The subject treated in the manuscript is suitable for the journal. The abstract is well written presenting a summary of the methodology and results. The introduction section provides a good and relevant background for the study. The research methodology appears to be comprehensive and well-designed. The result section is appropriate. The authors have conducted a detailed analysis. Conclusions are supported by the data and are adequate. Therefore, I would recommend the manuscript be accepted after following minor revisions.

 

·         Introduction: At present, there is only a few scholars……. Cite some appropriate studies.

·         Figure 1 correct the typo error in the legend.

·         Table 2 Recheck the Number of Obs. for SO₂ emissions. Moreover, add COD emissions statistics in the table.

·         Section 2.3: Taking into account certain studies….. cite some relevant references here.

·         Table 3 Why COD emissions results are not correlated in the table as it is included in the undesired outputs.

·         Section 4.1: define the variables used in test Models (equations) 1, 2, and 3.

·         Section 4.2: Explain test Models 4-9 in the text.

·         The discussion would be nice, even a short one. It would connect this case study with the current body of literature on the topic.

Best regards

 

 

 

 

Author Response

Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for your great comments and suggestions on our paper. We have modified the manuscript accordingly.

1. Introduction: At present, there is only a few scholars……. Cite some appropriate studies.

Response: For the time being, the effect of financial development on WEE has not been really researched in Western China. We have deleted this contents of “At present, there is only a few scholars……. ”. In addiction, we have added the some related researches in lines 53, and 60 to 63.

2. Figure 1 correct the typo error in the legend.

Response: The authors have revised the Reasearch in the Figure 1 and Figure 2 into Research

3. Table 2 Recheck the Number of Obs. for SO₂ Moreover, add COD emissionsstatistics in the table.

Response: The authors have added the COD emissions in Table 2.

4. Section 2.3: Taking into account certain studies….. cite some relevant references here.

Response: The authors have added the two references for selecting the indicators of calculating WEE in lines 135.

5. Table 3 Why COD emissions results are not correlated in the table as it is included in the undesired outputs.

Response: The authors carefully evaluated the paper and thought that the existence of Table 3 was unnecessary. Therefore, Table 3 was deleted.

6. Section 4.1: define the variables used in test Models (equations) 1, 2, and 3.

Response: The authors have added the definition of FDL, (FDL)², TPL, TO, and UL in the Models 1-9 in lines 261 to 263.

7. Section 4.2: Explain test Models 4-9 in the text.

Response: The authors have added the explanations of the test results of Models 4-9 in lines 316 to 319.

8. The discussion would be nice, even a short one. It would connect this case study with the current body of literature on the topic.The manuscript has been resubmitted to your journal now.

Response: The authors have added the main findings in lines 337 to 344, and the policy recommendations in lines 347 to 363, which are related to the main findings. We also have revised the future research prospects in lines 377 to 383.

Regards

Zhongyun Zhang

Author Response File: Author Response.docx