Chaos in Basics of Economics (About Ambiguity of the Terms "Positive Economics" and "Normative Economics") Cover Image

Chaos u podstaw ekonomii (o wieloznaczności terminów "ekonomia pozytywna" i "ekonomia normatywna")
Chaos in Basics of Economics (About Ambiguity of the Terms "Positive Economics" and "Normative Economics")

Author(s): Bogusław Czarny
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Uniwersytet Warszawski - Wydział Nauk Ekonomicznych

Summary/Abstract: In this article I want to show the ambiguity of the popular division of economics: “positive economics” and “normative economics”. In my opinion economists interpret the meaning of these terms in different ways. At the beginning I present the criteria of distinguishing “positive economics” from “normative economics”, which are often used by different groups of contemporary economists. Then I create a typology of different meanings of these terms used by the economists. Finally, I quote different economists who use these terms in different meanings. This way I present the ambiguities in economists’ language. I conclude by indicating the damage caused by the ambiguity of the discussed classification. It can be the cause of unsolved arguments that unnecessarily involve participants’ time and effort.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 25
  • Page Range: 75-90
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish