Evaluation of the Coordinated Development of the “Population–Economy” in Counties Within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors used spatial autocorrelation analysis, Gini coefficient, comprehensive evaluation model and coupled coordination model to assess the coordinated development of county “population-economy” in 2010 and 2022 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration of China as an example. The article is structurally complete, but needs to be revised before publication. My comments are as follows:

1. Lines 15-37. The abstract needs to be streamlined and refined. It is the eyes of the article, and the redundancy is evident in the current version. In fact, it only needs to briefly introduce the background, methodology, results and significance of the study on the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei “population-economy”, instead of repeating the results.
2. Lines 60-86. The introduction introduces the background of “population-economy” coordination, land development and protection, etc., but it should emphasize the shortcomings of the existing research, highlight the innovation of this study and the difference with the existing research. Therefore, I suggest the following references to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the study. -Spatiotemporal Changes and Influencing Factors of the Coupled Production-Living-Ecological Functions in the Yellow River Basin, China; Effect of destructive earthquake on the population-economy-space urbanization at county level-a case study on Dujiangyan county, China; Coupling coordination between urbanization and ecosystem services value in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban aglomeration; Establishing coordinated development index of urbanization based on multi-source data: A case study of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China
3. Lines 87-103. The introduction provides background on the coordinated development of urban agglomerations, territorial development and conservation, and “population-economy” coordination, but lacks a critical analysis of these studies. The last paragraph should highlight the highlights and research value of this paper. For example, what is typical of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region studied in this paper? How is the coordinated development of population-economy in the county different from that in other big cities?
4. The construction of the evaluation index system is reasonable, but the discussion of the theoretical basis for the selection of indicators should be strengthened. For example, why these particular indicators were chosen to assess the coordinated demographic-economic development.
5. The results provide a preliminary analysis of the spatial and temporal characteristics of population distribution and economic development, but there is no in-depth discussion of the underlying reasons, which could be added to the in-depth discussion of the results. For example, why certain regions have higher levels of population distribution and economic development while others have lower levels.
6. The author's analysis of the “population-economy” coupling coordination is relatively comprehensive, but he neglects to explain the changes in the level of coupling coordination, and he should strengthen the research and discussion on the trends and mechanisms of the changes. For example, why some counties have significantly higher levels of coupled coordination while others have little change.
7. Specific measures are proposed in the section on countermeasures, but the feasibility analysis of these measures can be added to promote the development of population-economy coupling in other regions of the world similar to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration.

Author Response

Comments 1：Lines 15-37. The abstract needs to be streamlined and refined. It is the eyes of the article, and the redundancy is evident in the current version. In fact, it only needs to briefly introduce the background, methodology, results and significance of the study on the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei “population-economy”, instead of repeating the results.

Response 1: Agree. The abstract has been streamlined to retain only the core content, including the research background, methodology, findings, and significance, thereby improving readability. For details, please refer to Lines 23-26.

 

Comments 2：Lines 60-86. The introduction introduces the background of “population-economy” coordination, land development and protection, etc., but it should emphasize the shortcomings of the existing research, highlight the innovation of this study and the difference with the existing research. Therefore, I suggest the following references to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the study. -Spatiotemporal Changes and Influencing Factors of the Coupled Production-Living-Ecologica.l Functions in the Yellow River Basin, China; Effect of destructive earthquake on the population-economy-space urbanization at county level-a case study on Dujiangyan county, China; Coupling coordination between urbanization and ecosystem services value in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban aglomeration; Establishing coordinated development index of urbanization based on multi-source data: A case study of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China

Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Four additional research studies suggested by the reviewers have been incorporated to address the gaps in existing research. The introduction section has also been updated to include a discussion on the differences between existing studies and this research. For details, please refer to Lines 58-76. Additionally, the numbering of references throughout the manuscript has been updated accordingly in red.

 

Comments 3：Lines 87-103. The introduction provides background on the coordinated development of urban agglomerations, territorial development and conservation, and “population-economy” coordination, but lacks a critical analysis of these studies. The last paragraph should highlight the highlights and research value of this paper. For example, what is typical of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region studied in this paper? How is the coordinated development of population-economy in the county different from that in other big cities?

Response 3: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have added a critical analysis of the existing studies in Lines 69-74. To highlight the focus and value of this research, we have also included an analysis of the typical characteristics of Counties within the BTHUA in Lines 82-86, especially the significance of conducting the study at the county level as the evaluation unit (Lines 89-94): As the basic units of economic and social development in China, counties serve as important carriers for implementing policies such as regionally coordinated development and comprehensive rural revitalization. Taking the county as the evaluation unit can more finely reveal the development differences within the region in a more detailed way, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of precise and differentiated policies.

 

Comments 4：The construction of the evaluation index system is reasonable, but the discussion of the theoretical basis for the selection of indicators should be strengthened. For example, why these particular indicators were chosen to assess the coordinated demographic-economic development.

Response 4: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have added the reasons for selecting the evaluation indicators in Lines 182-207, filling the gap in the discussion of the theoretical basis for indicator selection.

 

Comments 5：The results provide a preliminary analysis of the spatial and temporal characteristics of population distribution and economic development, but there is no in-depth discussion of the underlying reasons, which could be added to the in-depth discussion of the results. For example, why certain regions have higher levels of population distribution and economic development while others have lower levels.

Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Based on the original analysis, we have added discussions on the causes of regional differences in the evaluation results. For details on the reasons for regional disparities in population distribution, please refer to Lines 340-341, Line 358, and Lines 369-372. For details on the reasons for regional disparities in economic development, please refer to Lines 409-411, Lines 418-419, and Lines 429-430.

 

Comments 6：The author's analysis of the “population-economy” coupling coordination is relatively comprehensive, but he neglects to explain the changes in the level of coupling coordination, and he should strengthen the research and discussion on the trends and mechanisms of the changes. For example, why some counties have significantly higher levels of coupled coordination while others have little change.

Response 6: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have added discussions on the changes in the coupling coordination degree and the potential causes of these changes (Lines 444-454). For instance, the economic development index significantly improved due to the influence of indicators such as CGDP and PCDI. Simultaneously, the urban population was decentralized, leading to a decrease in PD and CPD, resulting in a more balanced population distribution. Consequently, the coordination level between population and economy has been enhanced.

 

Comments 7：Specific measures are proposed in the section on countermeasures, but the feasibility analysis of these measures can be added to promote the development of population-economy coupling in other regions of the world similar to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration.

Response 7: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have added a feasibility analysis of the specific measures in Lines 502-506 and Lines 527-530 to enhance the operability of the recommendations and provide references for other regions.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article provides findings about how population distribution and economic development are coordinated across counties in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration (BTHUA). The authors aim to address the question of  how effectively is the population distribution aligned with economic development across the counties of the BTHUA. The topic original and relevant, as this paper addresses a specific gap by focusing on county-level analysis, which is not covered enough in the existing literature. Moreover, the practical significance of this article lies in the fact that its findings can help improve regional planning policies for areas facing similar challenges. Excellent research and clear presentation.

Author Response

Thank you for your time and effort in reviewing our manuscript titled “Evaluation on the Coordinated Development of ‘Population-Economy’ in Counties within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration” (Manuscript ID: land-3512941). We sincerely appreciate the positive feedback and constructive recognition provided by the reviewers.

We are pleased to learn that the reviewers found our work valuable and did not request any revisions. We have carefully reviewed their comments and confirm that the manuscript is ready for publication in its current form.

Once again, we thank the reviewers for their insightful evaluation and the editor for facilitating the review process. 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Summary of the article

The article evaluates the coordinated population and economic development in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration countries. The article utilizes quantitative analysis and examines the special and temporal dynamics of population and economic growth which highlights the disparity and interdependence in the regional context. The findings indicated an imbalance between the population distribution and economic development where the core urban areas experienced rapid economic expansion which lagged in the rural areas. The BTHUA faced new demands for coordinated development in a territorial space.  The regional differences within the BTHUA were reduced to a certain extent highlighting enhanced special flustering effects but in some remote countries, there were issues like irrational population distribution and low economic vitality. The resource suggested optimizing the allocation of resources and improving infrastructure for achieving balanced regional development and the Study provided insights for the policy makers for promoting sustainable urbanization and economic growth in the particular region.

 

General Comments

The manuscript presents a thorough and well-structured evaluation of the coordinated development between population and economy in counties within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration (BTHUA). The study effectively utilizes spatial autocorrelation analysis, the Gini coefficient, a comprehensive evaluation model, and a coupling coordination model to analyze population distribution and economic development trends over time. The findings are well-supported by statistical analysis, and the discussion provides valuable insights into policy implications for regional development.

However, some minor revisions are needed to improve clarity, strengthen the discussion, and enhance the overall readability of the manuscript. Below are specific suggestions for revision.

 

Strengths and weakness of the article

Reviewing the article, the study provided a comprehensive analysis where a thorough examination of the coordinated development of population and economy in the BTHUA utilizing quantitative methods for assessment of the regional disparities and interdependencies. The strength of the article lies in the empirical data for supporting the findings which offers reliable and credible sources for evaluating the special and temporal dynamics of economic and population growth within the region. The research carried out by the article offers practical recommendations for policymakers offering data-driven insights for creating strategies such as improving the allocation of resources and enhancement in infrastructure along with coordination of policies for addressing the imbalances within the region. The study focuses on a broader discourse on Sustainable urbanization highlighting the key challenges and opportunities in one of the most important economic hubs of China. Tracking down the uneven development between the core urban areas and peripheral countries, the article provided a nuanced understanding of regional economic dynamics which is important for a balanced growth strategy.

Focusing on the weakness of the article the study emphasized economic and population parameters without addressing the social factors such as quality of life, education, etc. which are essential for sustainable development. Despite the article having provided numerical figures to support the data but would have benefited from specific case studies or examples of successful regional coordination which would provide support for a practical application of the findings. As the nature of urban development is rapidly evolving the study did not sufficiently focus on the future shift in policy, technology, and patterns of migration which can impact regional coordination.

Application of the article

The findings of the article can be applied to regional planning and policy-making in the BTH urban agglomeration for achieving balanced economic and population growth.  Urban planners can utilize the recommendations of the study to reduce disparities within the region and promote sustainable urbanization. The findings of the research can guide similar analysis in other rapidly urbanizing regions which will help the governments design strategic interventions for coordinated development. Lastly, the policymakers utilizing the insights from the research can properly allocate resources and enhance the economic opportunities in underdeveloped countries.

 

Specific Comments

1. Abstract & Introduction:
• The abstract is too technical; simplify key findings for better readability.
• Strengthen the introduction with global references to similar urban studies.
2. Methodology:
• Justify the choice of spatial autocorrelation, Gini coefficient, and coupling models over other techniques.
• Provide brief explanations of the statistical significance of the results.
3. Results & Discussion:
• Expand on causal explanations for spatial clustering trends.
• Clarify Gini coefficient interpretations with statistical significance where applicable.
• Ensure figures have clear labels and legends for readability.
4. Policy Recommendations:
• Extend recommendations beyond population decentralization, incorporating environmental sustainability, mobility, and smart technologies.
5. Language & Formatting:
• Minor grammatical adjustments needed for clarity.
• Example:
• Original: The calculated Gini coefficients revealed a relatively balanced distribution of construction-area population density...
• Suggested: Gini coefficients indicate a balanced distribution of construction-area population density, while other indicators show disparities.

 

Final Recommendation: Minor Revisions

The paper is well-prepared and contributes valuable insights, but minor improvements in clarity, justification, and readability will enhance its impact. We look forward to the revised version.

Author Response

Weakness of the article: Focusing on the weakness of the article the study emphasized economic and population parameters without addressing the social factors such as quality of life, education, etc. which are essential for sustainable development. Despite the article having provided numerical figures to support the data but would have benefited from specific case studies or examples of successful regional coordination which would provide support for a practical application of the findings. As the nature of urban development is rapidly evolving the study did not sufficiently focus on the future shift in policy, technology, and patterns of migration which can impact regional coordination.

 

Response : The regional coordination of urban agglomerations is not only influenced by population and economic factors but also significantly affected by social factors such as quality of life and education. We fully agree with the reviewer’s comments. Considering the authority and availability of data, this study focuses on population and economy to explore a coordinated development evaluation method for counties (the basic administrative management unit in China). This research aims to provide references for policy-making in optimizing population and economic layouts and improving resource allocation in the coordinated development of urban agglomerations. In future research, we will expand the scope to include public services such as transportation infrastructure, public services (e.g., science, education, culture, and healthcare), and further develop a comprehensive evaluation method for the coordinated development of urban agglomerations. Additionally, the impact of policy, technology, and patterns of migration on regional coordination will be considered.

 

Specific Comments

1. Abstract & Introduction:

• • The abstract is too technical; simplify key findings for better readability.
  • Strengthen the introduction with global references to similar urban studies.

Response （1）: Agree. The abstract has been streamlined to retain only the core content, including the research background, methodology, findings, and significance, thereby improving readability. For details, please refer to Lines 23-26.

Response （2）: Thank you for pointing this out. In the introduction of the revised manuscript, we have added relevant research fields such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yellow River Basin to support the existing gaps in the literature. For details, please refer to Lines 58-76.

 

2. Methodology:

• • Justify the choice of spatial autocorrelation, Gini coefficient, and coupling models over other techniques.
  • Provide brief explanations of the statistical significance of the results.

Response （1）: Spatial autocorrelation analysis is a statistical method employed to explore the distribution patterns and associations of geographical spatial data. It simultaneously considers the correlation between spatial locations and attribute values, revealing the clustering or dispersion characteristics of geographical phenomena in space. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional statistical methods that neglect spatial dependence. By providing both global and local perspectives, spatial autocorrelation analysis not only reflects overall trends but also identifies local anomalies.

The Gini coefficient is widely applied in the fields of economics, demography, and sociology, exhibiting high versatility and comparability. Compared with other methods, the Gini coefficient is intuitive and easy to interpret, enabling a rapid reflection of the degree of inequality within a region.

The coupling model is utilized to analyze the interactions and coordination levels between two or more systems. It overcomes the limitations of single-system analysis and provides a dynamic analytical framework, revealing the dynamic relationships between systems.

Response （2）: This study employed the model to quantify the Coordinated Development of "Population-Economy" in Counties within the BTHUA. The results of statistical significance indicate that the coupling coordination level in the region had significantly improved from 2010 to 2022, with enhanced coordinated development capacity observed in both core and peripheral areas. This finding could provide robust support for evaluating the effectiveness of regional coordinated development policies.

 

3.Results & Discussion:

• • Expand on causal explanations for spatial clustering trends.
  • Clarify Gini coefficient interpretations with statistical significance where applicable.
  • Ensure figures have clear labels and legends for readability.

Response （1）: Thank you very much for your insightful comments. Based on your suggestions, we have further refined and supplemented our manuscript by adding detailed discussions on the causes of regional differences in the evaluation results.

Lines 340-341, Line 358, and Lines 369-372: Regarding the population distribution, we have expanded our analysis to include a discussion on the regional disparities in population distribution and provided in-depth explanations for the causes of spatial clustering characteristics, such as PD, CPD, and ANLI.

Lines 409-411, Lines 418-419, and Lines 429-430: In terms of economic development, we have not only discussed the regional disparities in economic development but also elaborated on the causes of regional economic imbalance, including CGDP, RIS, PCDI, and PCPBR.

These factors directly influence the spatial clustering patterns of the evaluation results. Through these additions, we believe that our manuscript now provides a more comprehensive and in-depth causal explanation for the spatial clustering trends.

Response （2）: Thank you very much for your valuable comments. In the manuscript, we analyzed the regional balance of "Population-Economy" in Counties within the BTHUA based on changes in the Gini coefficient of the evaluation indicators. Specifically, an increase in the Gini coefficient indicates a rise in inequality, while a decrease suggests a trend toward regional balance. Based on statistical calculations for 2010 and 2022, the implementation of "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Strategy" has alleviated inequality among counties in the region, a finding that is supported by statistical significance tests. The Gini coefficient demonstrates strong applicability and statistical significance in regional disparity analysis. If you have further suggestions or questions regarding these revisions, please feel free to share them.

Response （3）: Lines 375-380 and Lines 435-436: Thank you for pointing this out. We fully agree that clear chart labeling and legends are crucial for readers' understanding. Therefore, during the revision process, we have further optimized Figures 3 and 4 to enhance their readability and comprehensibility. In the revised manuscript of Figures 3 and 4, we have added detailed Notes to provide clear explanations of the meanings of H-H Significant, L-L Significant, H-L Significant, and L-H Significant.

 

4. Policy Recommendations:

• • Extend recommendations beyond population decentralization, incorporating environmental sustainability, mobility, and smart technologies.

Response: Thank you very much for your valuable comments. We have expanded and supplemented the policy recommendations section (4.4, Lines 492-506) by adding content related to environmental sustainability, mobility, and smart technologies. This enhancement aims to more comprehensively reflect the diversity and forward-looking nature of the policy recommendations.

 

5. Language & Formatting:

• • Minor grammatical adjustments needed for clarity.
  • Example:
    • Original: The calculated Gini coefficients revealed a relatively balanced distribution of construction-area population density...
    • Suggested: Gini coefficients indicate a balanced distribution of construction-area population density, while other indicators show disparities.

Response: Thank you for pointing this out. We fully agree that clear and accurate expression is crucial for the quality of a paper. Therefore, we have carefully reviewed the entire manuscript and revised any inaccurate or unclear expressions. The relevant modifications have been highlighted in red in the revised manuscript to allow you to easily review the changes.