An Axiology of Weak Areas: The Estimation of an Index of Abandonment for the Definition of a Cognitive Tool to Support the Enhancement of Inland Areas in Sicily
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The Author(s) propose(s) a methodological approach for the monitoring of abandonment phenomena of marginal areas. The methodology provides for the development of an appropriate index, that summarizes a series of indicators able to take into account and forecast abandonment tendencies of weak areas.
The issue dealt with is interesting and current. It could be a valid reference for the definition and identification of nex governmental policies aimed at the preservation of the marginal areas (especially the historic centers of little towns). The paper is clear and well structured in these phases, from the objective identification of the weak areas to the selection of the indicators to be considered for the abandonment index development.
The statistical outputs obtained by the SPSS implementation should be better explained, in order to better support the reliability of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. A comparison (or a reference for future insights of the research) with other techniques for the index composition could be carried out, and the advantages of PCA selection could be highlighted.
Author Response
Land – 2055551
1st Round review
Cover letter
We would like to thank the Reviewers and Editor for their detailed comments and suggestions for the manuscript.
We believe that the comments have identified important areas which required improvement.
After completion of the suggested edits, the revised manuscript has benefitted from an improvement in the overall presentation and clarity.
Below, you will find a point-by-point description of how each comment was addressed in the manuscript; original reviewer comments in black colour and responses in red colour.
Reviewer 1
Point 1. The Author(s) propose(s) a methodological approach for the monitoring of abandonment phenomena of marginal areas. The methodology provides for the development of an appropriate index, that summarizes a series of indicators able to take into account and forecast abandonment tendencies of weak areas.
The issue dealt with is interesting and current. It could be a valid reference for the definition and identification of nex governmental policies aimed at the preservation of the marginal areas (especially the historic centers of little towns). The paper is clear and well structured in these phases, from the objective identification of the weak areas to the selection of the indicators to be considered for the abandonment index development.
We thank you for your positive comment.
Point 2. The statistical outputs obtained by the SPSS implementation should be better explained, in order to better support the reliability of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method.
We thank you for the suggestion.
We have integrated additional information on principal component analysis implemented with SPSS statistical software, namely the new Figure 12 and Table B1 in Appendix B.
Figure 12. Screen plot rotated solution using the Rotation - Varimax method
B1. Total variance explored
Point 3. A comparison (or a reference for future insights of the research) with other techniques for the index composition could be carried out, and the advantages of PCA selection could be highlighted.
We thank you for the suggestion.
We have integrated at the end of the Discussion section the benefits of PCA and indicated possible research developments to improve the abandonment index estimation for marginal areas.
We have integrated some references.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper aims to propose a new cognitive tool for the phenomenon of abandonment developed from the perspective of an axiological approach of 18 marginal areas in Italy. Though the paper deals with extended data set it is well-structured and comprehensive. There is a high level of clarity on what this is the aim of the paper and how it is developed, while the conclusions at the discussion session are meaningful and effective.
There are some minor concerns below.
The introduction section up to line 88 mentions a number of initiatives, programs, and policies that sound brief state of the art. Nevertheless, there is not much explanation about their relevance to the paper's aim or to their impact on the examined area typology.
The survey in section 2 could benefit from maps or diagrams, especially where it mentions abandonment typologies in Europe. This section is needed also to define and explain the term "spatial capital" which is widely used at various points of the paper (there is a term in lines 406-410 but it should be earlier).
Section 3 explains NSIA classification briefly and adequately. Section 4 is OK
Sections 5 and 6 are analytic and highly explanatory.
Author Response
Land – 2055551
1st Round review
Cover letter
We would like to thank the Reviewers and Editor for their detailed comments and suggestions for the manuscript.
We believe that the comments have identified important areas which required improvement.
After completion of the suggested edits, the revised manuscript has benefitted from an improvement in the overall presentation and clarity.
Below, you will find a point-by-point description of how each comment was addressed in the manuscript; original reviewer comments in black colour and responses in red colour.
Reviewer 2
Point 1. The paper aims to propose a new cognitive tool for the phenomenon of abandonment developed from the perspective of an axiological approach of 18 marginal areas in Italy. Though the paper deals with extended data set it is well-structured and comprehensive. There is a high level of clarity on what this is the aim of the paper and how it is developed, while the conclusions at the discussion session are meaningful and effective.
We thank you for your positive comment.
There are some minor concerns below.
Point 2. The introduction section up to line 88 mentions a number of initiatives, programs, and policies that sound brief state of the art. Nevertheless, there is not much explanation about their relevance to the paper's aim or to their impact on the examined area typology.
With reference to the period that the auditor pointed out to us, the references to the measures introduced by the cohesion policies and the subsequent Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 represent the overall legislative framework to support the development of inland areas. In fact, all measures introduced in favor of inland areas are developed in order to achieve a strengthening of cohesion and the promotion of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. The research objective of estimating an index of abandonment as a cognitive tool to support the enhancement of Sicily's internal areas represents a fundamental point, namely to provide for them a knowledge base on which to develop coherent strategies to support their development consistent with the current European legislative framework.
We hope to have clarified the issue raised by the reviewer.
Point 3. The survey in section 2 could benefit from maps or diagrams, especially where it mentions abandonment typologies in Europe.
We have integrated in section 2, as recommended by the reviewer a map for the phenomenon of Shrinking Regions at the European scale in order to highlight the European regions most at risk of abandonment and diagrams on Shrinking cities to characterize the consistency and causes of the phenomenon also at the European scale.
Point 4. This section is also necessary to define and explain the term "spatial capital" which is used extensively in various places in the article (there is a term in lines 406-410 but it should be earlier).
At lines 416-426 (in the previous version 406-410) we have highlighted the definition of Territorial Capital with reference to the literature [105-110].
Point 5. Section 3 explains NSIA classification briefly and adequately. Section 4 is OK
We thank you for your positive comment.
Point 6. Sections 5 and 6 are analytic and highly explanatory.
We thank you for your positive comment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
