<P> Economists commonly prefer to distinguish normative economics ("what ought to be" in economic matters) from positive economics ("what is"). Many normative (value) judgments, however, are held conditionally, to be given up if facts or knowledge of facts changes, so that a change of values may be purely scientific . On the other hand, welfare economist Amartya Sen distinguishes basic (normative) judgments, which do not depend on such knowledge, from nonbasic judgments, which do . He finds it interesting to note that "no judgments are demonstrably basic" while some value judgments may be shown to be nonbasic . This leaves open the possibility of fruitful scientific discussion of value judgments . </P> <P> Positive and normative economics are often synthesized in the style of practical idealism . In this discipline, sometimes called the "art of economics," positive economics is utilized as a practical tool for achieving normative objectives . </P> <P> An example of a normative economic statement is as follows: </P> <Dl> <Dd> <Dl> <Dd> The price of milk should be $6 a gallon to give dairy farmers a higher living standard and to save the family farm . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> </Dl>

Relevance of normative economic approaches in environmental economics