Friedman defined positive economics as prediction-focused and science-like

Evidence

Friedman distinguished “positive” economics (the study of “what is”) from “normative” economics (the study of “what ought to be”). The goal of positive economics, he wrote, “is to provide a system of generalizations that can be used to make correct predictions about the consequences of any change in circumstances. Its performance is to be judged by the precision, scope, and conformity with experience of the predictions it yields. In short, positive economics is, or can be, an `objective’ science, in precisely the same sense as any of the physical sciences.” — Donald MacKenzie, An Engine, Not a Camera, 53

In his 1953 essay, Friedman distinguished “positive” economics (the study of “what is”) from “normative” economics (the study of “what ought to be”). The goal of positive economics, he wrote, “is to provide a system of generalizations that can be used to make correct predictions about the consequences of any change in circumstances. Its performance is to be judged by the precision, scope, and conformity with experience of the predictions it yields. In short, positive economics is, or can be, an `objective’ science, in precisely the same sense as any of the physical sciences.” — Donald MacKenzie, An Engine, Not a Camera, 53

Categorization

• DEFINE: Sets up the positive/normative distinction that underlies the instrumentalism the performativity thesis challenges.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Donald MacKenzie, An Engine, Not a Camera: How Financial…, 53
• XREF: connects to: Friedman claimed positive economics could resolve policy disputes by eliminating value differences — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 405; Friedman’s methodology defended perfect competition by prioritizing aggregate prediction over individual descriptive accuracy. — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 407; Becker defines economics as the science of systematic environmental responses — Michel Foucault, The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at…, 1405