This section contains information about articles under review and waiting for publication in next issues of the journal.

Means-End Laddering: A Motivational Perspective
E. Isaac Mostovicz, Janus Thinking Ltd., Belgium
Nada K. Kakabadse, Northampton Business School, The University of Northampton, United Kingdom

Abstract. For the past thirty years, market researchers have used the technique of means-end laddering to understand consumer behaviour. The prevailing thinking was that means-end laddering explored the hierarchical thought processes which were involved in making past consumer purchases. These would then be used as a basis for understanding future purchasing patterns.
This article looks at means-end laddering from the motivational perspective. Rather than taking on a static, retrospective view of consumers' thought processes, it argues that means-end laddering actually uncovers the theoretical basis for consumptive choice, which can then be used as a template for meeting consumer's future consumptive needs.
The article outlines the theoretical foundations of the motivational perspective in light of existing methodological limitations in the cognitive structure approach to means-end laddering. It presents two templates which drive individual consumptive behaviour based on the core concepts of either affiliation (Theta) or achievement (Lambda).

Taxes, public spendings and economic growth in OECD countries
Keshab Bhattarai, Business School, University of Hull, UK

Abstract. Impacts of taxes and spending on accumulation and growth are assessed theoretically using neoclassical, optimal growth and overlapping generation models. Empirical supports based on rank correlation and panel regression analysis suggest that countries with higher tax GDP ratio generally had lower growth rates compared to others with lower ratio in OEDC when examined from 1991 to 2006. The country and time specific factors seem to play more prominent role than by the taxes. Country specific differences have their historical roots as collective preferences, constraints on sizes and modalities of public goods and services and willingness to pay for them and the optimal size of private sectors and the desire for economic freedom are influenced by those factors. Time specific factors owe to international business cycles. Real factors including the rate of capital formation, human capital and technology are more important for growth than the tax rates as higher tax rates are associated with higher rate of public services. Negative effects of taxes are often compensated by positive effects of public goods, thus leaving a very small net negative impact on growth.