The vicissitudes of positive and normative economy: ¿divorce and juxtaposition, neutrality and connection?

Abstract

In this paper some documents are reviewed about the neutrality or "positive" juxtaposition (what is) and the "normative" (which should be) approaches in Economics. It focuses in the discussion held by the economists Friedman and Myrdal; the first one, defender of neutrality of the scientific task, and the second one, inclined to the intrinsic relationship between value judgments and the development of scientific theories. The current trend of this debate has clarified in favor of the intrinsic relationship of economics and ethics (and values). During the last two decades of last century, and what has passed of the actual one, a vast literature that argues with greater capacity has been generated in favor of inherent relationships between positive and normative economics, from the formal and material objects study of Economics.