WHAT IS ECONOMICS?

Economics is not a natural science, i.e. it is not concerned with studying the physical world like chemistry, biology. Social sciences are connected with the study of people in society. It is not possible to conduct laboratory experiments, nor is it possible to fully unravel the process of human decisionmaking. “Economics is the study of how we the people engage ourselves in production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in a society.” The term economics came from the Greek for oikos (house) and nomos (custom or law), hence "rules of the household. Another definition is: “The science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.” BRANCHES OF ECONOMICS Normative economics: Normative economics is the branch of economics that incorporates value judgments about what the economy should be like or what particular policy actions should be recommended to achieve a desirable goal. Normative economics looks at the desirability of certain aspects of the economy. It underlies expressions of support for particular economic policies. Normative economics is known as statements of opinion which cannot be proved or disproved, and suggests what should be done to solve economic problems, i-e unemployment should be reduced. Normative economics discusses "what ought to be". Examples: 1-A normative economic theory not only describes how money-supply growth affects inflation, but it also provides instructions that what policy should be followed. 2- A normative economic theory not only describes how interest rate affects inflation but it also provides guidance that what policy should be followed. Positive economics: Positive economics, by contrast, is the analysis of facts and behavior in an economy or “the way things are.” Positive statements can be proved or disproved, and which concern how an economy works, i-e unemployment is increasing in our economy. Positive economics is sometimes defined as the economics of "what is" Examples: 1- A positive economic theory might describe how money-supply growth affects inflation, but it does not provide any instruction on what policy should be followed. 2- A positive economic theory might describe how interest rate affects inflation but it does not provide any guidance on whether what policy should be followed.