Question

Would an op-ed piece in a newspaper urging the adoption of a particular economic policy be a positive or normative statement?

Short answer

Newspaper content urging adoption of a particular economic policy is a Normative Statement

Step-by-step solution

Positive & Normative Economic Concept 

Positive Economics include statements that show the actual position, it shows how things really are.

Normative Economics include statements that denote an ideal solution statement, it shows how things should be.

Positive Economics denotes Economic problems, Normative Economics denotes Economic solutions.

Detailed Explanation 

Examples of Positive Economics : What is the actual National Income, Employment, Poverty etc.

Examples of Normative Economics : What should be the desirable (targeted) National Income, Employment Poverty etc.

So, the newspaper article - recommending why & how an economic policy should be adopted - is a Normative Economic Statement.