Final answer:
The statement regarding privatization and unemployment is a positive statement about structural policy. Positive statements are factual, while normative statements are opinion-based. The implications for unemployment can be cyclical or structural, and changes in unemployment rates don't always indicate negative economic conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement “Privatization of government-owned industries is likely to increase unemployment in the short run” is a positive statement about structural policy. Positive economic statements are those that can be tested and validated, they describe “real world” behavior and facts, whereas normative statements are based on opinions and what ought to be. When discussing economic policy, a positive statement focuses on outcomes that can be measured, such as changes in unemployment rates following a policy change. In this context, privatizing government-owned industries could lead to restructuring that affects employment, which is a structural change.
An example of a normative statement would be an op-ed piece in a newspaper urging the adoption of a particular economic policy, as it expresses a value judgement and an opinion on what actions should be taken, rather than an objective analysis. Regarding the types of unemployment, landscapers laid off due to a recession would experience cyclical unemployment, while coal miners laid off due to environmental regulations would face structural unemployment. The latter reflects longer-term changes in the economy and, just as with privatization, often requires workers to seek new kinds of employment or retrain for different industries.
Concerning unemployment rates, an increase is not necessarily bad for a nation. It can indicate more people are entering the labor force or that displaced workers are actively seeking better employment, reflecting potential dynamic changes in the economy.