The Implication of Energy Consumption, Corruption, and Foreign Investment for Sustainability of Income Distribution in Indonesia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Point 1:

The description of the abstract should be improved. For example, in the second sentence it says "this study is imperative..." but without explanation about why it is so important. Further in the abstract the author(s) mention CO emissions as an important issues however they do not mention it in the title and it is not significant part of the discussion in the other parts of the paper as well (for instance it is not part of the Introduction but is fundamental part of the Summary and Conclusion).

Point 2:

The Introduction would also benefit from some changes. I suggest that you should clearly identify the problem, underline the gap in the literature you want to fill (that you just briefly hint at the end of introduction) and close the first two or three sentences of the Introduction with a clear statement of what you want to achieve with your research.

You can then go on and give more details on why the influence of governance, FDA and energy consumption is important for income inequality. Finally, you can add a transition statement, introducing what will follow: the theoretical framework on these variables and income inequality.

If you cannot avoid using technical terms (like income disparity), I suggest that you should briefly define them and anticipate that full discussion of the concept will follow. Remember that, given the inter-disciplinary scope of the journal, readers not necessarily know any construct.

 

Point 3:

In the research section of the paper you mention Mundell's hypothesis, however the income distribution model suggest that impact of FDA on income distribution is expected to be negative. Please elaborate this a bit more.

Point 4:

It is unusual not to have the Discussion segment of the paper. From a conceptual point of view it is quite different than Results or Conclusion.

In the Discussion you can: (1)  Highlight the main findings, interpreting the figures, (2) Compare them with the current literature, both in agreement and in disagreement, arguing about the added value or the reason for the differences, (3) Discuss the limit of the research (4) Discuss the implication of the Results.

Point 5:

The Conclusion section can give a “take home message” and an opening to further research. I suggest the authors should try to rewrite it by providing conclusions that have to do with the framework set up for this study.

Point 6:

English language: being a non-native English speaker myself, I know the way all non-native English-speaking researchers struggle in transferring their thoughts in English language, that is to say in English way of thinking. I suggest that you should have the final manuscript checked by a professional reader. One issue for sure is the use or the omission of the article “the” and “a/an” …

Author Response

Dear respected reviewer.

We have tried our best to revise according to your comments. Please have a look our revision. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The research of statistical series of various variables enables the prediction of spatial and temporal changes in different countries. The authors presented the original methodology of quantification of variables (from 1984 to 2020) on the example of one of the largest countries in the world, which is not easy and is the greatest contribution of this work. In the paper, seemingly incompatible input parameters that do not belong to the same categories (eg economy, living environment, social environment) are connected. I am pleased to recommend the publication of this work.

Author Response

We are humble and pleased with your comments. Thank you very much.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is technically sophisticated. The interpretations of the data need to be presented with more clarity in lay language for reaching maximum readership.

You may refer to the recent paper of Thomas Piketty who also raises the connection between income inequality and environmental decline. 

Author Response

We are humble and pleased with your comment. Please have a look. Thank you.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf