The Impact of Weather on Economic Growth: County-Level Evidence from China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Overall I found the article to be well done and a valuable contribution. I think it could be improved if the authors provided a more searching interpretation of their findings, on a couple of points. They consistently refer to the effect or impact of weather on variations in economic growth, as if the one factor by itself produced the other. But as they themselves acknowledge in the final paragraph, what produces the effects is not just the weather, but the weather combined with the various adaptive responses that actors might take in anticipation of it. In that paragraph, they discuss only ones that could be taken in the future, but presumably some have already been adopted and have affected the outcomes. They could also discuss more explicitly than they do how far the results might be China-specific, or might be generalized to other areas. I wonder, as well, whether some of the impacts--for example, on retail sales--are merely redistributed rather than actually lost, and whether temperature and precipitation anomalies of a particular magnitude might have varying effects according to the season of the year in which they occur.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper provides substantial contributions to understanding the relationship between weather and economic growth in China. Overall, it is well-structured, and the contributions are clear. Nevertheless, several revisions are recommended.

Subsection 3.1: Could the authors detail the interpolation method used and explain why they chose a resolution of 0.1˚ x 0.1˚? How were areas without meteorological station coverage treated? Could interpolation introduce distortions in these regions?

Subsection 4.1: The authors state that precipitation has no significant overall effect on economic growth, contrasting with other studies suggesting a more pronounced impact. Could the authors clarify which factors might be responsible for these discrepancies?

Subsection 4.2: The authors exclude data from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This exclusion may ignore significant economic disruptions caused by the pandemic, and consequently may bias the overall findings on the impact of climate on economic growth.

How might excluding an entire year of data affect the robustness and representativeness of the overall results, especially in extreme weather events?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript 'The Impact of Whether on Economic Growth: County-Level Evidence from China' explores the intricate relationship between weather variations and economic growth at a county level in China from 2001 to 2020. The study offers valuable insights into how both temperature and precipitation influence economic productivity across different sectors, contributing to the growing body of literature on climate impacts on regional economies.

 

In my view the article presents some key strengths: i) The topic is highly relevant in the context of current global climate challenges. As nations grapple with the socio-economic implications of climate change, understanding the short-term impacts of weather on economic growth is crucial for policy-making and economic planning; ii) the authors employ a comprehensive methodological framework, utilizing county-level panel data, which enhances the reliability of the findings. The analysis of non-linear effects adds depth to the study, acknowledging the complexity of the weather-economy relationship; iii) also, I found the hypotheses clear are well-formulated and grounded in existing literature, providing a solid theoretical foundation for the empirical analysis. The distinctions made between weather and climate are particularly noteworthy, as they clarify the study's focus on short-term variations: besides, iv) the literature review is extensive, effectively contextualizing the study within the broader research landscape. It highlights key findings from previous studies while identifying gaps that the current research aims to address, and v) finally, the authors perform a series of robustness checks that strengthen the credibility of their findings. This attention to detail enhances the reader's confidence in the results presented.

 

There are some areas for minor improvement: First, I would like to see the study clarify about the use of GDP per capita as a primary metric for economic growth. Perhaps, further elaboration on why this measure is appropriate in the context of the analysis could enhance the readers' understanding. Including alternative metrics might provide a more holistic view of economic health. Second, there are some limitations in the discussion. The authors should more explicitly address the limitations of their study, particularly concerning the potential confounding factors that may influence the relationship between weather and economic growth. Acknowledging these limitations will provide a more balanced perspective and guide future research. Third, while the study includes figures depicting trends in temperature and precipitation, additional visualizations summarizing key findings could enhance clarity. Graphical representations of the non-linear effects of temperature on growth rates, for example, could provide immediate insight into the results. Finally, although the study offers some recommendations for adaptation strategies, a deeper exploration of specific measures that local governments and industries can implement would enhance the practical applicability of the findings.

 

Overall, this manuscript makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the impact of weather on economic growth in China. Its rigorous methodology, clear articulation of hypotheses, and comprehensive analysis of sectoral impacts render it a valuable addition to the field. With minor revisions to clarify certain aspects and expand on practical implications, this paper is poised for publication.

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf