A student asks…
Can a statement be both positive and normative?
What is a positive statement?
A positive statement is about what is. A positive statement might be right or wrong, and we can test it by checking it against the facts. “In April 2020, the United States documented its highest unemployment rate since 1948 when the rate climbed to 14.8 percent,” is a positive statement because we can test whether it is right or wrong. (In this case, it is right.)
What is a normative statement?
A normative statement is about what should be. A normative statement depends on values and cannot be tested. For example, “EconEye should give Evan a raise because his blog posts are the best!” is a normative statement. You may agree or disagree with the statement, but you can’t test it. The statement doesn’t assert a fact that can be checked.
Can a statement be both positive and normative?
The short answer is: no.
A statement cannot be simultaneously positive and normative. If a statement could be positive and normative, then it would be testable and non-testable at the same time, which is nonsense.
A sentence could be a mix of positive and normative statements. Consider the following example:
The unemployment rate is at its highest level since 1948, so Evan should get a raise.
This sentence combines a positive statement about the unemployment rate and a normative statement about my wage. The sentence is not one statement that is simultaneously positive and normative; the sentence is a mix of two statements, one positive and one normative. Even more clearly, consider rewriting the sentence as two sentences:
The unemployment rate is at its highest level since 1948. Evan should get a raise.
The first sentence is a positive statement, the second sentence is a normative statement, and the meaning has not changed.
Work these questions to solidify your understanding of the lesson, and get instant feedback.
Practice: Positive and Normative Statements