Is optimization analysis positive or normative, or both? Explain your answer

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Optimization is a good positive (that is, descriptive) model of economic behavior in most, though not all, situations. Sometimes people fail to optimize, for example, when they use average net benefit instead of marginal net benefit to make a choice. On the other hand, optimization is always a useful normative model. People will be better off if they are taught to optimize.