1.3 Normative and positive statements (2)

Positive political science is the branch of political science that concerns the description and explanation of political phenomena.

• A positive statement is objective and therefore can be scientifically tested for legitimacy based on available evidence. An example is, “Decreasing labor costs lead to a decrease in unemployment”.
• A normative statement is opinion-based and subjective. An example of this: “Tax rates are unfair.”