Research on the Coordinated Development of Innovation Ability and Regional Integration in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
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A brief summary. The paper examines the correlation between the level of regional integration and regional innovation in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The novelty of the article is that the authors use various indicators for calculation the level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao integration and modeling relationship between regional integration and regional innovation. General concept comments. Taking into account that the concept of sustainable development focuses on the economic development, social development and environmental protection for future generations, it seems that the paper does not quite fit the journal scope, which provides an advanced forum for studies related to sustainability and sustainable development. It should be noted that hypotheses are not identified carefully in the paper. The authors do not define the main goal as well. Despite the fact that the examination of the correlation between the level of regional integration and regional innovation is widely presented in recent studies on the example of various countries (in particular, EU countries), the authors have not conducted a thorough literary review. Most of the cited publications are devoted to the problems of the Chinese economy. Therefore, I would recommend reading papers devoted to economic complexity and variety in related industries, which offer important conclusions about the relationship between innovation and integration. Along with that, the cited references are mostly recent and relevant publications. Оn the one hand, I found the paper to be overall well written, on the other hand, the methodology of the manuscript are not presented in a well-structured manner. The methodology should be clearly described, systematically. The authors place part of the formulas and research methods in sections 2.1.2., part in 3.2., which is confusing. This correction is highly important for reproducing the manuscript’s results. In addition, it is important to detail why specific methods were chosen (in particular, the Malmquist index and the grey correlation model). The section 2.2. (2.2.1.-2.2.3.) contains too much general information, which it is desirable to delete and go directly to the subject of discussion. In section 6 too general recommendations are given as well. There are no specifications and recommendations on either market, economic, industrial, infrastructure or institutional integration. |
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Specific comments. It is important to detail how the integration level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was calculated (the Table 2). Because it is unclear how the integration level was calculated, it is difficult to assess the objectivity of the results obtained, in terms of the level of correlation (lines 587-588). Lines 491-492: «The industrial structure convergence of the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta is obvious...». It remains unclear to me why it is obvious and why «we should break the convergence of industrial structure» as well (lines 492-493). It is important to correct the denominator of the formula 4 (there is an exclamation mark instead 1). Sections 4.1.1., 4.1.2., 4.4., 6 contain non-scientific formulations. In particular, the authors use word "we" without explaining who is meant by "we". This gives the feeling that you are reading the state program for the development of the country instead a scientific article. In references there are repetitions: sources 2 and 13; 6 and 23; 8 and 28 etc. In the lines 65, 99, 246 the authors cite Liu et al., 2021. At the same time in references there are 3 different Liu 2021 (sources 4,7, 25). |
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Overall recommendation: reconsider after major revision. |
Author Response
Thank you very much for the revision suggestions of the study, which have allowed us to gain a lot, and deepened more thinking to better improve our study. We hope that our revisions can make the quality of the article better. If there are any inappropriate revisions, we will continue to work hard. Hope to have the opportunity to be published. Thanks again!The following is the specific modification part:
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1.It should be noted that hypotheses are not identified carefully in the paper. The authors do not define the main goal as well. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. We define the hypotheses in the literature review: we propose the following hypothesis 1: Regional innovation capability promotes the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. we propose the following hypothesis 2: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao integration promotes regional innovation capability by expanding the influence of scientific and technological innovation. Despite the fact that the examination of the correlation between the level of regional integration and regional innovation is widely presented in recent studies on the example of various countries (in particular, EU countries), the authors have not conducted a thorough literary review. Most of the cited publications are devoted to the problems of the Chinese economy. Therefore, I would recommend reading papers devoted to economic complexity and variety in related industries, which offer important conclusions about the relationship between innovation and integration. Along with that, the cited references are mostly recent and relevant publications. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. We have added relevant literature on regional integration in regional innovation capabilities.Singh ( 2008 ) revealed the direct positive effect of cross-regional knowledge integration on innovation quality, and the positive interaction effect of cross-regional knowledge integration and distributed R & D on innovation quality. Mukhametdinov ( 2018 ) established an integrated analytical framework based on the theory of pluralistic integration, and studied the EU by using criteria such as economic interdependence, economic convergence, intra-group size and interest asymmetry, cultural diversity and geostrategic motives. Org ( 2018 ) focused on the four pillars of ESCAP 's strategy of deepening regional cooperation and integration, and made recommendations on strengthening market integration, improving connectivity, and increasing investment in infrastructure development to achieve synergies and make a significant contribution to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sinha ( 2022 ) conducted a study of 24 Asian countries to develop sustainable development goal-oriented policy frameworks. Using a phased approach to policy implementation, the approach to achieving sustainable development goals was discussed. Оn the one hand, I found the paper to be overall well written, on the other hand, the methodology of the manuscript are not presented in a well-structured manner. The methodology should be clearly described, systematically. The authors place part of the formulas and research methods in sections 2.1.2., part in 3.2., which is confusing. This correction is highly important for reproducing the manuscript’s results. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. We reorganized the structure of the article.
In addition, it is important to detail why specific methods were chosen (in particular, the Malmquist index and the grey correlation model). Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. The Malmquist index can provide a breakdown of productivity changes based on quantitative data of input and output, thus providing different sources of change. There is no need to use standardized measurement units for the variables involved in its calculation. Therefore, the index is used to calculate regional innovation capability. Grey correlation coefficient analysis can determine whether the variables are related and determine the degree of correlation between variables. Referring to the results of Liu et al.(2006), the gray correlation coefficient is established to measure the correlation between regional innovation and the integration level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao and analyze the evolution trend of the development between the two systems. The section 2.2. (2.2.1.-2.2.3.) contains too much general information, which it is desirable to delete and go directly to the subject of discussion. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. We deleted the redundant content of this part.In section 6 too general recommendations are given as well. There are no specifications and recommendations on either market, economic, industrial, infrastructure or institutional integration. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. By exploring the synergy and interaction between Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao regional integration and regional innovation capabilities, the following policy recommendations are further proposed.
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Specific comments. It is important to detail how the integration level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was calculated (the Table 2). Because it is unclear how the integration level was calculated, it is difficult to assess the objectivity of the results obtained, in terms of the level of correlation (lines 587-588). Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.We use the evaluation index system to evaluate the level of regional integration, and select the corresponding indicators by summarizing the research methods of different scholars. We have adjusted some indicators to better reflect the level of integration.Lines 491-492: «The industrial structure convergence of the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta is obvious...». It remains unclear to me why it is obvious and why «we should break the convergence of industrial structure» as well (lines 492-493). Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.After careful consideration, we do lack logical relationship. We deleted this part.It is important to correct the denominator of the formula 4 (there is an exclamation mark instead 1). Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.We correct the denominator of the formula 4 Sections 4.1.1., 4.1.2., 4.4., 6 contain non-scientific formulations. In particular, the authors use word "we" without explaining who is meant by "we". This gives the feeling that you are reading the state program for the development of the country instead a scientific article. Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.We rewrite this part. In references there are repetitions: sources 2 and 13; 6 and 23; 8 and 28 etc. In the lines 65, 99, 246 the authors cite Liu et al., 2021. At the same time in references there are 3 different Liu 2021 (sources 4, Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. We rewrite the references. |
Reviewer 2 Report
Research on the Coordinated Development of Innovation Ability and Regional Integration in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
I think the Authors must make their paper much better and more accessible for some interested readers. The following are some key points and questions needed answered.
First of all, what was the contribution of Zheng Xuefeng to reviewed paper? The lack of information suggests the presence of a guest author.
What goals/hypotheses/research questions did the Authors set in the study?
Is the current study important to the international community or is it only of local importance?
The theoretical analysis (Section 2) is mostly not a theoretical background. It is a review of the literature, mainly on measurements. Readers are not given comprehensive information on the theory of industrial division of labor, the theory of innovative industrial agglomeration, and other mentioned theories from either classical or non-classical perspectives. There is a lack of prominent creators and developers of the theories, and, consequently, references to the relevant literature. Scientific theories (including those related to social sciences) are broad in scope and trans-territorial in nature, so they should not be referred only to the local and regional levels as the current research does.
What is the rationale behind the chosen study period (2010-2020)?
The conclusions of the research are inconclusive (see, for instance, the abstract)
Methods and data: Methods should be more precisely described, for example, “the grey correlation”, which seems to be the Chinese origin method, and is very popular amongst Chinese authors. Is the same method that is called “the gray correlation coefficient” (see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2006.03.010)
Statistical data have no reference to their origin (e.g. what exactly was the World Bank data source, could the Authors provide any URLs?). The World Bank provides a comprehensive set of data, so their users always should cite concrete datasets and provide URLs. The same remark applies to Statistical Yearbooks or reports from which the data was obtained (3.1.2.).
The structure of the work needs improvement (e.g. disproportions in the subsections of chapter 3). Why doubled subtitles? 2.1.1. “Integration Level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (136) and „( 1 ) Integration Level of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (137).
39-40: „In 2021, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will create a GDP of about CNY 11.7 trillion, with a per capita GDP of 134,000” The paper is written in 2022, so why is 2021 written about in the future tense? The article is intended for international readers, so values in national (Chinese) currency units should be expressed in the most commonly used currencies, e.g. USD.
Table 1. - Measures are not described in enough understandable (e.g. Regional average wage/GDP?). The same measures („Regional per capita wage/GDP” and „Regional average wage/GDP”) taken to describe “labour market openness” and “Relative price index”
Some of the symbols described under equation 6 (line 403) are different from those in equation 6.
What are exactly “the regional integration variables and regional innovation variables” used in equation 7? In which part of the article is the “regional integration index (lnITGit) and logarithm of regional innovation capacity (lnDFit)" explicitly described?
In order not to repeat the name of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area throughout the work, I suggest using the abbreviation. Acronyms (e.g. BIC, GMM, LLC) need explanation (the Bayesian information criterion - BIC)
Please adapt the style of in-text referencing and the bibliography list to the requirements of the journal “Sustainability”.
An example:
MDPI style: Cui, W.; Chen, J.; Xue, T.; Shen, H. The Economic Resilience Cycle Evolution and Spatial-Temporal Difference of Tourism Industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2000 to 2019. Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12092. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112092 versus:
[1] Cui W, Chen J, Xue T, et al. The Economic Resilience Cycle Evolution and Spatial-Temporal Difference of Tourism Industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2000 to 2019[J]. Sustainability, 2021, 727 13.10.3390/su132112092.
Lack of meticulousness and consistency in the preparation of the reference list (e.g. differences in spelling of titles of articles).
[20] Liu X, Liu H H, Yang G, et al. Productivity evaluation of the real estate industry in China: A two-stage Malmquist productivity index[J]. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 2020, forthcoming(2). Why not check if the paper was published? The reviewer checked and found:
Liu, X.- xiao, Liu, H.- hui, Yang, G.- liang, & Pan, J.- feng. (2021). Productivity assessment of the real estate industry in China: a two-stage Malmquist productivity index. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 25(2), 146-168. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2021.14199
Randomly selected errors: “Guangdong-hong kong-Macao greater bay area” (line 522); „From the test results of Table 5 (line 601) - Granger causality is tested in Table #6, not #5,
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper entitled “Research on the coordinated development of innovation ability and regional integration in Guangdong – Hong-Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area” studies the synergistic interaction between regional innovation and regional integration and examines the synergistic development between innovation capability and integrated development from theory and experience. The paper covers the period 2010-2020 and focuses on the Guangdong – Hong-Kong – Macao greater bay area.
The paper contains original scientific work and, to my point of view, is publishable subject to minor revision. You may find my comments below.
· The authors may highlight, more emphatically, the novelty of the paper and, overall, the contribution of the paper to the corresponding literature either in terms of methodology or in terms of findings.
· The Guangdong – Hong-Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area is a leading experimental area for China to build a world-class urban agglomeration, with strong economic development vitality. Why is that? What does “experimental” mean? The authors may elaborate to familiarize the non-Chinese readers. To this end, the authors may provide a map of the area under consideration.
· The difference (if there is any) between “market integration” and “economic integration” (see Table 1) is subtle. Perhaps, the authors may adopt a different terminology.
· To what extent the findings of the papers may provide lessons to other areas (e.g., Beijing – Tianjin – Hebei)?
Author Response
The authors may highlight, more emphatically, the novelty of the paper and, overall, the contribution of the paper to the corresponding literature either in terms of methodology or in terms of findings.
Thank you very much for the revision suggestions of the study, which have allowed us to gain a lot, and deepened more thinking to better improve our study. We hope that our revisions can make the quality of the article better. If there are any inappropriate revisions, we will continue to work hard. Hope to have the opportunity to be published. Thanks again!The following is the specific modification part and we mark the changes in red:
- The Guangdong – Hong-Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area is a leading experimental area for China to build a world-class urban agglomeration, with strong economic development vitality. Why is that? What does “experimental” mean? The authors may elaborate to familiarize the non-Chinese readers. To this end, the authors may provide a map of the area under consideration.
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Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.
China is trying to turn the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international first-class bay area and a world-class urban agglomeration.We draw a map for it.
- The difference (if there is any) between “market integration” and “economic integration” (see Table 1) is subtle. Perhaps, the authors may adopt a different terminology.
- Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts. Market integration is more from the links between markets, including different market tools and standards, through transactions to achieve economic integration. Economic integration is a joint adjustment of the economy, with different degrees and different ranges, and has beneficial results for different members. Our selection of indicators may not be typical and comprehensive enough. We will further read the literature to make the indicators more representative. We will continue to improve if there is anything improper.
- To what extent the findings of the papers may provide lessons to other areas (e.g., Beijing – Tianjin – Hebei)?
- Thanks for the valuable advice from the experts.There is mutual influence in the process of urban development. The geographical environment, resource endowment, functional orientation and industrial structure of world-class urban agglomerations determine the convergence of their development strategies to a certain extent. In the development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration, Beijing will work with Tianjin and Hebei to improve the business environment in the region, support the construction of key industries to undertake the platform, drive the industrial chain with the innovation chain, improve the regional industrial division of labor cooperation and supporting, and build a good Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei ' industrial circle '. Therefore, the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will have a certain reference for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Overall Recommendation: Accept in present form
Reviewer 2 Report
The Authors responded satisfactorily to most of my previous comments. However, the contribution of Zheng Xuefeng to the paper was explained in the „Response to Reviewers” but still this name is missing in the section „Author Contributions" (lines 627-630)
