Sir Arnold Plant (29 April 1898 – 19 April 1978) was a British economist.[3][4][5]
Arnold Plant | |
---|---|
Born | 29 April 1898 Hoxton, London, England |
Died | 19 April 1978 Camden, London, England | (aged 79)
Spouse |
Edith Render (m. 1925) |
Children | 2 sons |
Academic career | |
Institutions | London School of Economics |
Other notable students | Ronald Coase |
Influences | David Hume[1] Edwin Cannan[1] F. A. Hayek[2] |
Plant was born in Hoxton, London, the son of a municipal librarian, William Charles Plant, and Thomasine Emily Plant.[6][1] After attending Strand School, he worked for a mechanical engineering organisation. At the advice of William Piercy, he set out to learn about management. He obtained a BCom degree (1922) and a BSc degree in Economics (1923; specialising in modern economic history) from the London School of Economics.[1]
He worked as a professor at the University of Cape Town (1923–1930) and at the London School of Economics (1930–1965).[3]
Plant's 1934 paper on patents, "The Economic Theory Concerning Patents for Inventions",[7] is considered a classic.[8]
In 1947, he was knighted.[3][9] He died in 1978. His widow, Edith, Lady Plant, died a decade later.[10]