Question

14. The mayor of Gotham City, worried about a poten- tial epidemic of deadly influenza this winter, asks an economic adviser the following series of questions. Determine whether a question requires the economic adviser to make a positive assessment or a normative assessment. a. How much vaccine will be in stock in the city by the end of November? b. If we offer to pay 10% more per dose to the pharma- ceutical companies providing the vaccines, will they provide additional doses?

Answer 1

Answer a) Postive assessment

Reason

It requires to know the number of vaccines.

Answer b) Postive assessment

Reason

It is not a question of value-judgement

Answer c) Normative assessment

Reason

This is a quesion which wants to know the desirable situation.

Answer d) Positive assessment

Reason

It again asks for numbers.

Answer e) Normative assessment

Reason

Again it asks what the proper response should be.