In the past decade, U. S. companies have outsourced millions of jobs overseas. Companies that outsource jobs are acting immorally. If the U. S. government were to institute higher tariffs on imports, companies would stop outsourcing jobs. The U. S. government should institute higher tariffs on imports.

Positive statements are those that can be corroborated by statistics and evidence. They are objective and can be rejected if found false.

Normative Statements are subjective and in relation to economics refer to the opinion of the person saying it on what they think the particular economic variable should be like.

In the past decade, U.S. companies have outsourced millions of jobs overseas.

This is a POSITIVE statement as it is objective and can be corroborated by evidence.

Companies that outsource jobs are acting immorally.

This is a NORMATIVE statement as it is subjective and refers to the opinion of the person saying it.

If the U.S. government were to institute higher tariffs on imports, companies would stop outsourcing jobs.

This is a POSITIVE statement as it is objective and can be corroborated or tested by evidence.

The U.S. government should institute higher tariffs on imports.

This is a NORMATIVE statement as it is subjective and refers to the opinion of the person saying it. Their opinion will not lead to US Government to impose tariffs.