Migration Forecasting—Significance and Approaches
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The study "Migration Forecasting - Significance and Approaches" tackles an interesting and important subject. It is logical and well-organized and in general reads well. Overall, I enjoyed reading this paper but I have some comments and suggestions for the authors:
- The study is focused on the case of Germany. In the introduction, the German experience is described in detail. However, migration is not only the German case, most of it occurs in the developing countries. It would make sense to discuss this in greater detail at first.
- If the study is envisaged as a comprehensive entry on migration, some of the origins should be mentioned too (rural-urban migration). Also, the issue of opened borders should also be tackled - before WWII migration was not that easy.
- Can the authors consider such aspects of migration as environmental migration? How would it fit into the present study?
- Speaking about migration in Germany, an interesting case would be Turkish migration. The largest Turkish diaspora in the EU resides in Germany and there are studies modelling further Turkish migration to the EU that were envisaged that Turkish membership in the EU would not have any negative impact on migration.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
For the authors’ guidance my evaluation and some constructive remarks that would help to improve the paper’s quality are included below:
---Sophistication of the Argument---
=> The topic area is problematised, the discussion has an obvious structure, moving from a general to a more focused theme(s), ideas are clearly/fully developed, and circular reasoning is not used.
---Appropriate Methodology---
=> There is a clear justification of why the methodology is chosen over alternative approaches. The authors precisely defined objectives, aims, and valid conclusions (e.g., claims are supported with evidence/references made to the literature).
---Clear and Coherent Text---
=> The main ideas presented by the authors are obvious/intelligible and presented in a logical, easy-to-follow manner; the main themes are repeated/summarised; ideas are not “out-of-the-blue” i.e., they develop as a result of the discussion.
---Appropriate Reference to Relevant Published Literature---
=> The major theoretical or empirical work in the field is not omitted; the title of the paper reflects the study/central theme(s); minor to no grammar/spelling mistakes; and appropriate use of scientific/academic voice regarding the relevant research fields. No material included in the submission is copyrighted (e.g., scanned material from books or copied off the internet) or plagiarised; all figures and tables (and any appendices) have suitable titles and their sources are appropriately cited.
---Some Technical Issues & Stylistic Notes---
=> The authors should strictly adhere to the submission guidelines of the MDPI - Encyclopedia.
=> Referencing needs to be improved and/or refined carefully. I recommend the author using grammarly.com and writeandimprove.com to refine the text from minor errors.
=> Avoid one or two-sentence paragraphs.
---Concluding Remarks---
=> Why did the authors not specify specific research inquiries that are relevant to the study? They posed just an enquiry – i.e. Should immigration or emigration be modeled separately, or should net migration be modeled? Some follow-up research questions can also be included in the text. In case when research questions are identified, then the authors can attract the attention of readers who are able to conceive the framework of investigation at first glance. During the revision, I recommend the authors to come up with their research questions, and why the research is interesting and relevant to the field.
=> I recommend the authors clarify their methodology in detail, making sure that their planned methods/research tools are fully detailed. They ought to give attention to justifying their chosen methodology in terms of demonstrating applicability, adjustment, and usefulness in the paper. Thus, I would encourage the authors to undertake some revisions that may take some time.
=> Consequently, I appreciate there has been a lot of reading and ground covered. However, the study should have a stronger focus, compelling argument and discussion, and an indication of why the paper holds value to the readership of the MDPI - Encyclopedia.
=> MDPI – Encyclopedia is a leading peer-reviewed academic journal. A referee ought to recommend research that is deemed a great contribution to the journal’s future achievements. Consequently, the manuscript - in its current form – demonstrates rigorous research outcomes/findings that can be useful for the readers of the journal.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript has been sufficiently modified and revised. I can see that all my comments and suggestions have been taken on board, hence I am happy to recommend this paper for publication.
Reviewer 2 Report
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to you for your scientific efforts during the revision process. Great job. Congratulations!
