Who Decides and Who Invests? The Role of the Public, Private and Third Sectors in Rural Development according to Geographical Contexts: The LEADER Approach in Andalusia, 2007–2015

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper “Who decides and who invests?. The role of the public, private and third sectors in rural development according to geographical contexts. The LEADER approach in Andalusia, 2007-2015”, is, in my opinion, an excellent work. The topic is very interesting and particularly relevant. Although LEADER projects and LAGs have both been extensively analyzed since their inception, this paper focuses on the decisors agents, who make decisions and act on LEADER territories. This is a very uncommon perspective, and is one of the strength of the paper.

The methodology authors have employed is very adequate in order to analiza in detail and in an accurate way Andalusia´s rural diversity.

Below are some formal aspects that should be addressed.

Companies, Institutions and oficial bodies that are included in the “third sector” should be clarified. Third sector is not a commonly used term, and it is not until Table 3 (p. 21) when it´s integrants are revealed.

GAL and LAG acronyms are interchangeably used in the furst two pages. I suggest only LAG is employed, due to the fact that this is the only one used in the rest of the paper.

The mention to relative values in table 3 is missing.

In summary, in my opinion the paper is very well documented and organized, with a methodology that has rised very interesting results. It´s publication with very slight modifications is recommended

Author Response

Attached file with the answers

Reviewer 2 Report

I enjoyed reading your paper which is relevant not only for academic but also for political purposes.

A short version for actors in rural development could be interesting.

I agree in your decision, to conduct a qualitative research using in depth interviews.

Author Response

Attached file with the answers

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

Congratulations for your interesting paper. However in order to improve it suggest to clarify in the introduction the research problem of the study. Also add here a paragraph related with the the structure of the paper.

In relation to section 4, instead of "Discussion" I suggest to rename it. I see it more  as Results. Also because in section 5, you have again the title "Discussion and (Y) Conclusions".Please in this sections and emphasize political and practical  implications of you study, add the limitations of it as also paths for future research. 

Good Work!

Author Response

Attached file with the answers

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf