Final answer:
Normative economic statements express opinions or values about how things ought to be and are not factual statements that can be tested for truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
A normative economic statement is a statement of opinion which advocates a particular position. Unlike positive statements, which are factual and can be tested, normative statements are based on values and opinions, and thus cannot be proven true or false. For instance, when an economist suggests extended unemployment compensation because a nation should care for its citizens, it's an example of a normative analysis as it expresses what ought to be rather than what is.
Economics is not a form of moral instruction but rather seeks to describe economic behavior as it actually exists. In economics, a normative statement is a subjective question of opinion that describes how the world should be. It is based on one's values and cannot be proven true or false. Normative statements are different from positive statements, which are factual and can be tested. For example, an economist analyzing a proposed subway system may make a positive statement by concluding that the benefits exceed the costs. On the other hand, an economist arguing for extended unemployment compensation during the Great Depression because a rich country should take care of its less fortunate citizens is making a normative statement.