It deals with thing as they “ought to be”.  It has no objection to discussion the moral rightness or wrongness of things.  Economics is not only explaining facts as they are but also justifies them.  

Positive Science deals with things as they are means “What is”.  It explains their causes and effect but it remains strictly neutral about ends, it refuses to pass moral judgments.

Both can be distinguishing as follows:





What is 

What ought to be

2. Based on 

Cause & effect of facts

& Ethics

3. Deal with 

Actual or realistic situation

Idealistic situation

4. Value judgment 

Are not given

Are given

business economics

May 04, 2017