Empirical Analysis on the Mechanism of Industrial Park Driving Urban Expansion: A Case Study of Xining City

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Industrial park construction serves as a vital pathway in the process of urban expansion. Taking Xining City as a case study, this research delves into the mechanisms by which industrial park development drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, as well as exploring future urban governance models. The topic of this article holds significant practical relevance and offers valuable insights for some developing countries that are still in the rapid urbanization phase. However, the authors should consider the following questions for further refinement:

1. The novelty of the article needs to be more explicitly confirmed. For instance, in the "1. Introduction" section, the authors have highlighted the importance of predicting and understanding population changes and mentioned classical models such as the Logistic model and the Grey model, which are suitable for regions with low migration rates. However, the article fails to explicitly state how it contributes to this issue beyond the existing models. Therefore, it is recommended that the authors clearly articulate the innovative aspects of their research in the "1. Introduction" section.

2. The research approach primarily relies on case studies and statistical data to analyze the mechanisms of industrial park construction's impact on population size and built-up area expansion. It is crucial to evaluate whether this methodology is scientifically rigorous and capable of uncovering the complexities of population dynamics. Additionally, the existence of a significant causal relationship between industrial park construction and the expansion of population size and built-up area is debatable, considering that China was undergoing rapid urbanization at the time, and the expansion of population size and built-up area was evident across the country. Can this be solely attributed to industrial park construction nationwide?

3. The article is grounded in the theory of cumulative cyclic causality, suggesting that industrial parks are often the initial drivers of urban expansion. However, in reality, many industrial parks currently face the risk of vacancy, even leading to the emergence of "ghost cities." While industrial park construction is a vital means of expanding urban built-up areas, its ability to drive population growth is not inevitable. Relying solely on the case of Xining to illustrate this complex issue is insufficient; a larger sample size is necessary to provide a more comprehensive understanding.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Industrial park construction serves as a vital pathway in the process of urban expansion. Taking Xining City as a case study, this research delves into the mechanisms by which industrial park development drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, as well as exploring future urban governance models. The topic of this article holds significant practical relevance and offers valuable insights for some developing countries that are still in the rapid urbanization phase. However, the novelty of the article is unclear and the anlysis is too simple.

Author Response

1. The novelty of the article needs to be more explicitly confirmed. For instance, in the "1. Introduction" section, the authors have highlighted the importance of predicting and understanding population changes and mentioned classical models such as the Logistic model and the Grey model, which are suitable for regions with low migration rates. However, the article fails to explicitly state how it contributes to this issue beyond the existing models. Therefore, it is recommended that the authors clearly articulate the innovative aspects of their research in the "1. Introduction" section.

In the introduction section of the revised manuscript, the innovative points of this study have been added. The revised version points out that taking Xining City as an example, this paper explores how the industrial development of industrial parks drives economic growth and subsequently increases the demand for labor, leading to the inflow and clustering of population, which in turn promotes the expansion of urban population and land use. This not only demonstrates the general process of urban expansion but also explains the underlying reasons for the transition from urban expansion to adjustment, transcending the limitations of solely relying on data models to predict the evolution of urban size.

 

2. The research approach primarily relies on case studies and statistical data to analyze the mechanisms of industrial park construction's impact on population size and built-up area expansion. It is crucial to evaluate whether this methodology is scientifically rigorous and capable of uncovering the complexities of population dynamics. Additionally, the existence of a significant causal relationship between industrial park construction and the expansion of population size and built-up area is debatable, considering that China was undergoing rapid urbanization at the time, and the expansion of population size and built-up area was evident across the country. Can this be solely attributed to industrial park construction nationwide?

In the conclusion and discussion section of the revised manuscript, the following elaboration has been added regarding this issue: While industrial parks cannot account for all the reasons for urban expansion, they are a major force and one of the crucial paths for promoting urban development. Moreover, as an underdeveloped city in western China, Xining's case study reveals that for economically underdeveloped regions, following the conventional path of development is challenging to achieve economic "catch-up" and reverse their lagging status. However, through the concentrated development of industrial parks, improving the local investment environment, and enhancing infrastructure quality, it becomes possible to achieve catch-up growth. Nevertheless, the construction of industrial parks is a gradual process that must be coordinated with national and even global macroeconomic trends, avoiding unlimited development that could lead to disorderly expansion or even the emergence of "ghost cities." However, as an underdeveloped city in western China, Xining's development trajectory offers valuable insights and can serve as a reference for other regions.

 

3. The article is grounded in the theory of cumulative cyclic causality, suggesting that industrial parks are often the initial drivers of urban expansion. However, in reality, many industrial parks currently face the risk of vacancy, even leading to the emergence of "ghost cities." While industrial park construction is a vital means of expanding urban built-up areas, its ability to drive population growth is not inevitable. Relying solely on the case of Xining to illustrate this complex issue is insufficient; a larger sample size is necessary to provide a more comprehensive understanding.

In the conclusion and discussion section of the revised manuscript, additional discussions on this issue have been included: While industrial parks contribute significantly to urban expansion and are one of the key paths for promoting urban development, they cannot account for all the reasons behind urban expansion. Nevertheless, the construction of industrial parks is a gradual process that must be coordinated with national and even global macroeconomic trends, avoiding unlimited development that could lead to disorderly expansion or even the emergence of "ghost cities." Therefore, in the second stage of urban development, it is crucial to shift from an "incremental" governance model focused on urban-rural transformation to a "stock" governance model aimed at improving urban quality. This shift will help prevent the continuous large-scale expansion of industrial parks and instead focus on enhancing the scientific and refined level of urban governance.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper offers an interesting analysis of the impact of industrial parks on urbanization and their evolution, using the example of the city of Xining in China. However, I suggest making important additions to the article's structure and content.

1. The abstract should clearly highlight the authors' scientific contribution, emphasizing the originality of the research.

2. I recommend supplementing the paper with the theoretical framework, which would help determine whether the case is representative or specific to this type of urban development model.

3. The description of research methods is insufficient; the brief mention in the introduction should be expanded into a separate chapter on methods and materials.

4. Additionally, there is a lack of citations for data sources in many instances, particularly concerning quantitative data. The number of references is also inadequate; more citations from studies on similar topics are needed.

5. I also suggest adding a separate chapter titled "Discussion," which could compare the findings with other studies or case studies, including those from outside China.

It is unclear in the paper whether these areas are mono-functional or multifunctional, affecting the understanding of park development differences from the initial stages to later expansions or improvements. Clarification is also needed on whether the development zones compete with each other or are centrally managed as a network. The management process is not clearly explained.

 

The topic is interesting, and these additions would greatly enhance the reader's understanding of the issue.

Author Response

1. The abstract should clearly highlight the authors' scientific contribution, emphasizing the originality of the research.

Thank you for your suggestions. The authors have made further improvements to the abstract.

2. I recommend supplementing the paper with the theoretical framework, which would help determine whether the case is representative or specific to this type of urban development model.

The authors have rearranged the structure by renaming the second section to " Research methods and Data of the Case Study Area," and accordingly, they have added discussions on the methodology and theoretical framework.

3. The description of research methods is insufficient; the brief mention in the introduction should be expanded into a separate chapter on methods and materials.

The authors have rearranged the structure by renaming the second section to " Research methods and Data of the Case Study Area," and accordingly, they have added discussions on the methodology and theoretical framework.

4. Additionally, there is a lack of citations for data sources in many instances, particularly concerning quantitative data. The number of references is also inadequate; more citations from studies on similar topics are needed.

Thank you for your suggestions. The article has provided a detailed explanation of the data sources in the second section and added corresponding references.

5. I also suggest adding a separate chapter titled "Discussion," which could compare the findings with other studies or case studies, including those from outside China.It is unclear in the paper whether these areas are mono-functional or multifunctional, affecting the understanding of park development differences from the initial stages to later expansions or improvements. Clarification is also needed on whether the development zones compete with each other or are centrally managed as a network. The management process is not clearly explained.

Thank you for your suggestions. The article has expanded its discussion section to include a thorough analysis of the interrelationships between various industrial parks and an exploration of the strategies necessary for different stages of development. Please refer to the second paragraph of the discussion section for further details.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the mechanism by which industrial parks drive urban expansion, using Xining City in Qinghai Province as a case study. It critiques traditional models that predict urban population changes in rapidly urbanizing cities and introduces the theory of cumulative cyclic causality to explain the interrelationship between economic growth, employment, and population expansion.

The paper presents an interesting analysis, but some areas need improvement. Importantly, the absence of a methodology section is a significant shortcoming. A comprehensive methodology is essential for guiding readers through the research process, allowing for the replication of results and enhancing study's credibility.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to include an analysis of post-pandemic data to evaluate whether Xining's economy has recovered from the crisis. This could provide valuable insights into the resilience and adaptability of urban growth dynamics in response to global challenges.

Furthermore, the larger map in Figure 1 is missing key elements, specifically the North arrow and the scale bar, which are essential for accurate geographic interpretation.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English language is generally clear, but might be improved.

Author Response

The paper presents an interesting analysis, but some areas need improvement. Importantly, the absence of a methodology section is a significant shortcoming. A comprehensive methodology is essential for guiding readers through the research process, allowing for the replication of results and enhancing study's credibility.

The authors have rearranged the structure by renaming the second section to " Research methods and Data of the Case Study Area," and accordingly, they have added discussions on the methodology and theoretical framework.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to include an analysis of post-pandemic data to evaluate whether Xining's economy has recovered from the crisis. This could provide valuable insights into the resilience and adaptability of urban growth dynamics in response to global challenges.

Thank you for your suggestion. In order to better reflect the impact of the pandemic, we have added data on Xining's economic growth rates for 2021, 2022, and 2023 to the discussion section, along with appropriate analysis of these figures.

Furthermore, the larger map in Figure 1 is missing key elements, specifically the North arrow and the scale bar, which are essential for accurate geographic interpretation.

Thank you for your suggestion. The revised draft has made modifications and improvements to the figure accordingly.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. Ok. The abstract has been expanded.

2. Ok. The authors have made additions, but it is still possible to refer to Porter's industrial cluster theory and others.

3. Ok.

4. I still think the references are insufficient (only 19), which makes the analysis poorly grounded in science. 

5. The authors have introduced an element of discussion, but it could still be improved.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions for revision! Based on your advice, the authors have further revised and improved the article. Firstly, we have added more research literature related to industrial clusters. Secondly, we have supplemented and enhanced the conclusion and discussion sections of the paper by adding the following content:

1. Addition of Research Literature on Industrial Clusters:
   To enrich the theoretical foundation and literature support of the article, we have included several recent research papers on the formation mechanisms of industrial clusters, knowledge sharing and spillover effects, as well as the role of government planning in the development of industrial clusters in the introduction and literature review sections. These papers not only help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity and dynamics of industrial clusters, but also provide a solid theoretical foundation for our subsequent analysis and discussion.

2. Enhancement and Supplementation of the Conclusion and Discussion Sections:
   In the conclusion and discussion sections of the paper, we have made the following additions and improvements:

   • The Crucial Role of Government Planning: We further emphasize the importance of government planning in promoting the construction of industrial parks and facilitating regional economic development. Especially in economically underdeveloped areas, the government should take the initiative to formulate and implement scientific development plans based on external environments and internal development needs, in order to guide the development of industrial parks towards structural optimization and quality improvement.
   • The Significance of Strategic Adjustment: We clearly point out that the government should adjust its development strategies in a timely manner, shifting from the mere expansion of industrial parks to focusing on the optimization of industrial structure and overall quality improvement. This strategic adjustment will not only help address existing problems in the development of industrial parks but also lay a solid foundation for future sustainable development.
   • Policy Recommendations: Based on the above analysis, we have put forward a series of specific policy recommendations, including strengthening policy guidance and support, optimizing the layout of industrial parks, promoting industry-university-research cooperation, and enhancing talent cultivation and introduction, with the aim of providing valuable references for government decision-making.

We believe that through these revisions, the theoretical foundation of the article has become more solid, the logical structure clearer, and the discussion sections more in-depth and comprehensive. We would like to thank you once again for your review and valuable suggestions, and we look forward to your further guidance.

Best regards,

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have thoroughly addressed all the provided comments, resulting in a significant improvement of the manuscript compared to the previous revision. As such, it is now suitable for publication in its current form.

Author Response

Thank you for your affirmation of the revised draft.