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Basil Yamey

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Basil Selig Yamey
Born4 May 1919
Cape Town, South Africa
Died9 November 2020
Occupation(s)Economist, Professor
EmployerLondon School of Economics
AwardsCBE, Fellow of the British Academy
Academic background
EducationUniversity of Cape Town
Academic work
Notable worksArt & Accounting

Basil Selig Yamey CBE (4 May 1919 – 9 November 2020) was a South African economist and expert in the history of accounting.[1]

Career[edit]

He was born in Cape Town in South Africa in May 1919,[2] and educated at the University of Cape Town. For many years he was a professor at the London School of Economics. He was a part-time member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission from 1966 to 1978, and author of many books and articles, including one on the economics of underdeveloped countries co-authored with Peter Thomas Bauer.[3]

Yamey's interest in rational economic decision-making led him to study historical accounting records. Yamey rejected the claim by Werner Sombart that the double-entry bookkeeping system was a pre-condition, or at least an important stimulating factor, for the emergence of modern capitalism. Yamey combined his interest in Accounting History with his love of art (he was a trustee of the National Gallery, London from 1974 to 1981 and of the Tate Gallery, London from 1978 to 1981) in his book Art & Accounting, a richly-illustrated survey of paintings portraying commercial scenes and business-people. He died in November 2020 at the age of 101.[4]

Selected bibliography[edit]

Journal articles[edit]

  • Peter Thomas Bauer; Basil S. Yamey (1951). "Economic Progress and Occupational Distribution". The Economic Journal. 61 (244): 741–755. doi:10.2307/2226978. JSTOR 2226978.
  • Basil S. Yamey (1949). "Scientific bookkeeping and the rise of capitalism". The Economic History Review. 1 (2–3): 99–113. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1949.tb00108.x. JSTOR 2589824.
  • Basil S. Yamey (1972). "Predatory Price Cutting: Notes and Comments". The Journal of Law & Economics. 15 (1): 129–142. doi:10.1086/466730. JSTOR 725017. S2CID 153377713.

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Christopher J Napier (2021). "Vale Basil S. Yamey". Accounting History. 26 (2): 332–335. doi:10.1177/10323732211009907. S2CID 234771976.
  2. ^ Profile of Basil Yamey
  3. ^ "World Connect". Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. ^ A trip down memory lane