ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines two alternative ideal–typical models of intercorporate relations, between firms and the political milieu, in order to highlight how non-contractual elements–that is, normative, communitarian–in business relations may have a different relevance in the economic achievements of firms and business groups, depending on the prevalence of either model which, using a conventional denomination, are respectively called "German" and "English". A better performance in a competitive international market is considered an indicator of success of a national economic system, taken as the unit of analysis. The superior economic performance of Taiwan in comparison to South Korea may be assessed in terms of superior global competitiveness as measured by a number of indicators, and in particular by their respective business competitiveness. Literacy, education and health opportunities are "efficiency enhancers", to use the World Economic Forum's expression. The structural and cultural elements of a moral economy are constitutive of business milieux.
