Towards Just Energy Transition: Renewable Energy Transition Dynamics and Sectorial Employment in Ghana

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Please see the attached report with my comments. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Please see the attached report with my comments. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The theoretical part should be supplemented with examples of energy transformation in other countries (in Africa and elsewhere). Articles on the impact of the energy transition on employment in the energy sector and cooperating sectors should be cited.

Forecasts and studies by other authors regarding Ghana should be moved from the research part to the introduction part.

The practical part should start with changes in employment levels in the energy sector, if possible, taking into account the share of renewable energy.

In my opinion, the part about education is too long.

Changes in the sectoral employment structure are a natural development trend. Why do the authors believe that it is the energy transformation that causes these changes and not other factors (e.g. increased youth aspirations, differences in wages, state investments, foreign investments, etc.)?

In conclusions should recommend increasing labor productivity in the agricultural sector rather than maintaining the level of employment there.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

Thank you for allowing me to review this manuscript.

This research evaluates the impact of energy transition on sectorial employment in Ghana.

The introduction sets the proper general background for the study. Nevertheless, the literature coverage must be expanded and improved. Please overview recent and relevant research, such as:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29704-1

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2022.100977

Critically discuss previous research results to emphasize the gaps in the knowledge and the original contribution of this study.

Please discuss the rationale behind choosing the econometric apparatus for this research. Explain its benefits in the context of the selected dataset and regional coverage. In addition, please expand the discussion on data testing and significance for the main objective. 

Please include a table presenting the variables and their sources.

The discussion of the results is a part of the conclusions. However, only some of the results are comprehensively discussed in the context of the current knowledge. Please highlight the main differences between this research and previous studies, as well as the support in the literature for the results.

The conclusions are supported by the main results and the policy recommendations, which are connected with the findings. However, the discussion of the results needs to be more comprehensive, as some features, such as education, are not included. Please address this issue.

The authors adequately present the main limitations of the study.  

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The assumption that the energy transformation causes changes in sectoral employment is risky. Both phenomena may be loosely related, and the fact that there is a correlation may be accidental. The conclusion that the energy transformation negatively/positively affects employment in agriculture/industry/services is unacceptable. Too often, the role of the government is emphasized: decisions regarding economic activity are made by households and enterprises, the government only creates the conditions. In my opinion, the authors should write two separate articles about changes in the employment structure (everything points to the structure adapting to the development trends of developing economies) and employment in the energy industry from the perspective of the introduction of renewable energy. In my opinion, combining these two issues is a mistake.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

The authors addressed the comments and suggestions for improving the manuscript. 

Author Response

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Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors do not take into account my comments:

- it should be presented how the level of employment in the energy sector changes after the introduction of renewable energy sources,

- state whether energy is more expensive or cheaper after the introduction of renewable energy sources,

- energy transformation is only one of the elements influencing the situation on the labor market (in my opinion, economic growth and demographic processes are more important). The assumption that it is the energy transformation that causes changes in the employment structure, especially without indicating the percentage of renewable energy in energy production, is an over-interpretation.

Author Response

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