Basil Yamey

Prof. Basil S. Yamey, CBE (5 May 1919 -) is a South African economist. He was born in Cape Town in South Africa, 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 under-developed countries co-authored with Peter Thomas Bauer.

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.

elected bibliography

*cite journal | author=Peter Thomas Bauer; Basil S. Yamey | title=Economic Progress and Occupational Distribution | journal= [http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0013-0133 The Economic Journal] | year=1951 | volume=61 | pages=741–755
*cite book | author=Peter Thomas Bauer; Basil S. Yamey | title=The Economics of Under-developed Countries | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1957

*cite book | author=Basil S. Yamey | title=Essays on the history of accounting | location=New York | publisher=Arno Press | year=1978 | id=ISBN 0-405-10933-4
*cite book | author=Basil S. Yamey | title=Art & Accounting | location=New Haven | publisher=Yale University Press | year=1989 | id=ISBN 0-300-04227-2