Evolution of the Urban Network in the Upper Yellow River Region of China: Enterprise Flow, Network Connections, and Influence Mechanisms—A Case Study of the Ningxia Urban Agglomeration along the Yellow River
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report (New Reviewer)
Thanks for the opportunity to review this interesting study about the evolution from 2005 to 2021 of enterprise inflow and outflow and network connections in Ningxia area, and analysis of relevant influence mechanisms using social economic, borrowing scale, and geographic variables. The manuscript presents convincing results with ample figures and tables and is in good shape overall. Two suggestions for improvement:
1. In the notes of Figure 3, please use “Northeast China (NEC)…” instead of “Northeast China is NEC…”. In addition, the “and all the following are the same” is confusing, please consider rephrasing.
2. For Tables 5, 6, and 7, please consider illustrating your results using one or two examples. For instance, for Table 7, the first variable is InAgglomeration, and it presents some numerical results. In page 19 line 597, you can add a few lines of texts to explain what these numerical results mean and/or what your returned model is. This will greatly help non-statistics readers better understand your analysis.
minor editting needed
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1:
- In the notes of Figure 3, please use “Northeast China (NEC)…” instead of “Northeast China is NEC…”. In addition, the “and all the following are the same” is confusing, please consider rephrasing.
Refer to lines 313-317 of this paper:
This paper has made changes to the abbreviations of relevant regions, for example: Northeast China (NEC), North China (NC), East China (EC), Central China (CC), South China (SC), Southwest China (SWC), Northwest China (NWC).
- For Tables 5, 6, and 7, please consider illustrating your results using one or two examples. For instance, for Table 7, the first variable is InAgglomeration, and it presents some numerical results. In page 19 line 597, you can add a few lines of texts to explain what these numerical results mean and/or what your returned model is. This will greatly help non-statistics readers better understand your analysis.
Refer to lines 559-572, 589-599 of this paper:
This paper has added explanations regarding relevant spatial effects and supplemented explanations for certain significant numerical results. For example: The explanation of spatial effects, ‘The SDM can decompose the effects of explanatory variables into direct effect, indirect effect, and total effect, reflecting the extent to which explanatory variables impact the region itself, surrounding areas, and the overall region’. The supplementary explanation of industrial agglomeration, ‘Under the influence of different spatial weight matrices, all the indices of industrial agglomeration are significantly evident at the 5% level, indicating that it can notably facilitate the mobility of businesses within the internal and external networks. This positive effect is not only reflected by the direct effect within the internal network but also generates spatial driving effects on the enterprise flow in surrounding cities’.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report (New Reviewer)
The paper covers an interesting and important topic.
Some important merits are evident, namely in what concerns the methods used and the results obtained.
My overall opinion about the study is very positive. I have however two main concerns that must be addressed before publication.
First, the introduction is too long and includes figures. I think it is much better to have a short introduction providing the motivation for the study and a section of literature review.
Second, the interpretation of the evidence could be stronger, namely through a closer link with previous studies on related topics.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2:
- First, the introduction is too long and includes figures. I think it is much better to have a short introduction providing the motivation for the study and a section of literature review.Second, the interpretation of the evidence could be stronger, namely through a closer link with previous studies on related topics.
Refer to lines 37-46 of this paper:
This paper has included a brief explanation of the research motivation and literature review, and strengthened the connection with relevant recent literature. For example: In the era of high-quality development, the flow of businesses can analyze the changes in different types of networks in a region from multiple perspectives, scales, and scenarios, such as innovation networks [1], production networks [2], and financial network [3]. It holds a unique advantage in deciphering the regional network structure. Within the context of ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, the ability of enterprise flow to interpret multiple networks resonates with the region's pursuit of networked development path. Innovations in research methods for enterprise network connections are beneficial for both expanding the scope of enterprise flow studies and enriching the study of urban networks in the Yellow River Basin.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report (New Reviewer)
The paper is very interesting, however I have some minor suggestions.
- The goal of the paper should be stated more clearly in Abstract. Abstract is too long, I suggest to shorten results in this part.
- The literature review is very good. First attempt for GAWC rankings was Beaverstock, Smith, Taylor, 1999 "A roster of world cities", do I suggest to add this paper
-Also goal of the paper an what new authors introduce to the knowledga should state more clearly
- Chapter 5. I suggest discussion first, conclusion second
Good luck with your paper!
Author Response
- First attempt for GAWC rankings was Beaverstock, Smith, Taylor, 1999 "A roster of world cities", do I suggest to add this paper.
Refer to lines 70-71 of this paper:
This paper has added this reference, ‘Beaverstock, J. V.; Smith, R. G.; Taylor, P. J. A roster of world cities. Cities, 1999, 16, 445-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-2751(99)00042-6’.
- Also goal of the paper an what new authors introduce to the knowledge should state more clearly.
Refer to lines 9-33 of this paper:
This paper has simplified the abstract and removed some content.
- Chapter 5. I suggest discussion first, conclusion second.
Refer to lines 608, 674 of this paper:
This paper has swapped the order of the conclusion and discussion
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article entitled "Research on Urban Network Evolution and Spatial Effect Mechanism from Perspective of Enterprise Flow" uses the INM model to construct the directional weighting matrix of urban network based on the branch-investment association state of enterprises, combines the social network analysis method to analyze the evolution of urban network structure, and takes the economic in Nignxa urban agglomeration along Yellow River.
I will recommend the manuscript/article after a thorough revision. The manuscript have minor grammatical error that needs to be checked.
1. What is the main question addressed by the research?Answer:
The promotion of new urbanization in their agglomeration of urban cities to have an urban chain network with the different cities that might improve the economic stability of the region. I suggest a more thorough explanation to improve the statement to address the gaps
2. Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it address a specific gap in the field?
Answer:
Yes, I believe that this topic is relevant in this field. Yes, because it will help the economic growth of a region or country using this approach.
3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published material?
Answer:
This study used the data of industrial and commercial enterprises to easily see the development of the districts
4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the methodology? What further controls should be considered?
Answer:
In methodology needs to be simplified so that you can see what they should do in their study. And the models that will be used, it's good to just put them in the introduction to the theoretical framework.
5. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented and do they address the main question posed?
Answer: Yes
6. Are the references appropriate?
Answer: Yes
7. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures.
Answer:
In Figure 6, since the decline rate of the nodal diversity and node transferability are the same, it is suggested that the vertical access should be on one side (not for both sides). And it’s not appropriate to have the same description as can be seen in the legend and in the vertical axis title. Suggestion in vertical axis decline rate and on the legend for Node transferability and nodal diversity.
Figure 5 should be presented in layman form so that it may be understandable to other readers.
Reviewer 2 Report
Please refer to the attachment.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Using Ningxia urban agglomeration as an example, the authors studied urban economic development from the business organization networking perspective. Business organizations, especially those of large scale and complexity, naturally possess a mesh structure where the constituent entities form the nodes, and the enterprise activities among them become the linkage/edge of the network structure. Each organizational entity has a geographical anchor location; thus, the economic network is tied to the urban development design. While it is a worthy study, the writing of the manuscript needs significant improvement. First, all grammatical errors must be corrected. I suggest the authors seek native English speakers’ assistance to help improve the paper. Second, many terms/concepts were used without any definitions, for example, what is “factor movement,” “enterprise flow,” “INM model,” “high-quality development,” or “multiple factor flows.” (should “multiple-factor flows” or “multiple factors flows.) Next are a few other comments:
1. Line 127, what is “spatial fall”?
2. Figure 2, some of the texts were unreadable, suggesting applying transparency to the background map.
3. Equation 1, what’s the meaning of 25?
4. Table 2, the meanings of indicators are confusing. Can you use a figure illustration for all elements?
5. Line 167, what is the “five-in-one development concept”?
6. Line 207, what are the ‘LR’ and ‘Wald’ tests?
7. Line 223, what are “inflow diversification” and “inflow polarization”?
8. Line 285, what is the “siphon effect”?
