Positive and normative economics, Macroeconomics

Assignment Help:

POSITIVE AND NORMATIVE ECONOMICS


Economics as a social science adopts an analytical approach to the study of changes in economic variables on the actions of human beings. The scientific approach to the analysis of economic events, commonly referred to as positive economics, concerns itself with statements that are capable of verification by reference to the facts. For instance, "If the price of cloth is higher, people will buy less" or, "As the money in the economy increases, the price level will go up". We can statistically estimate the relationship between cloth prices and sales or between the money supply and general price level. In principle all positive statements should be reducible to some form which is testable by reference to empirical evidence. As a doctrine, the advocates of this part of economic science, would argue that economic science does not and should not encompass statements that involve value judgements, i.e. statements of the form 'x is good or bad'. According to them, such would be the province of normative economics and that economists cannot make any statements involving value judgements.


Normative economics involves prescriptions or statements about "what ought to be", rather than "what is". It involves the advocacy of specific policy prescriptions, because it uses ethical judgements as well as knowledge of positive economics. Contrary to positive economic statements, normative economic statements cannot be tested before they are accepted or rejected. Normative economics gives rise to statements such as "corporate sector should not maximize profits", or "monopolies should be regulated". This type of economics may be contrasted with positive economics which is concerned with describing and analyzing the economic phenomenon as it is.

 


Related Discussions:- Positive and normative economics

What do you meant by investment, Q. What do you meant by Investment? Wh...

Q. What do you meant by Investment? When we use the word investment, we characteristically mean 'gross investment'. Fundamentally, gross investment comprises all finished goods

What is monetary base, What is Monetary base The monetary base is defin...

What is Monetary base The monetary base is defined as the total value of all currency (banknotes and coins) outside the central bank and commercial banks' (net) reserves with t

Calculate constant vector, A particle at position I with velocity i has a...

A particle at position I with velocity i has acceleration w given by i = w x ( w x i ) where ? is a constant vector. Show by using the vector triple product and calcula

Inflation, what are the causes of inflationary gap

what are the causes of inflationary gap

Two evils of monopoly, A government purchase real GDP. Are increases in gov...

A government purchase real GDP. Are increases in government purchases associated with increases in real GDP?Describe the important characteristics of perfect competition and monopo

Government in the cross model, The government in the cross model ...

The government in the cross model Net taxes NT(Y) depends positively on real GDP in the cross model In this model when national income increase

Monetary policy , Under what conditions does the text explain that monetary...

Under what conditions does the text explain that monetary policy is neutral? If it is neutral under these conditions, why is it still an important economic policy tool? Your answer

Cost reduction, Cost Reduction Positive measures to effect a lowering o...

Cost Reduction Positive measures to effect a lowering of costs include:  reducing national insurance contributions (an  ad valorem  tax on employing labor);

Calculate present value and interest rate, You win a lottery. You have the ...

You win a lottery. You have the choice of two ways to be paid. If you pick Payout Scheme X, you get $2,750 today. If you pick Payout Scheme Y, you get three payments: $1,000 today,

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd