Economist (publication)
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| Economist (publication) | |
|---|---|
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| Title | Economist |
| Category | News magazine |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Publisher | The Economist Group |
| Firstdate | 1843 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Economist (publication) is a weekly international magazine published in London that covers politics, international affairs, business, finance, science, and technology. Founded in 1843 by James Wilson and colleagues associated with the Anti-Corn Law League, it has documented events such as the Crimean War, American Civil War, World War I, and World War II while commenting on developments involving figures like Otto von Bismarck, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Margaret Thatcher.
History
The publication was launched in 1843 by James Wilson and supporters of the Anti-Corn Law League amid debates tied to the Corn Laws, industrial disputes in Manchester, and the rise of figures such as Richard Cobden and John Bright. Throughout the 19th century it covered events including the Revolutions of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War, and the consolidation of the German Empire under Otto von Bismarck, while reporting on imperial matters involving the British Empire, Sepoy Mutiny, and colonial administrations in India and Africa. In the 20th century its pages commented on diplomacy during the Paris Peace Conference (1919), the rise of Nazism, strategic shifts in the Pacific War against Imperial Japan, and the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. Editors and writers engaged with postwar institutions such as the United Nations, the European Economic Community, and later the European Union, while responding to global financial events like the Great Depression, the 1973 oil crisis, and the 2008 financial crisis.
Editorial stance and content
The magazine espouses a broadly classical liberal perspective informed by thinkers traced to Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, and Gladstone, advocating market-oriented policies, free trade exemplified by the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty era, and internationalist approaches reflected in coverage of treaties like the Treaty of Versailles and organizations such as the World Trade Organization. Its editorial voice has supported interventions or non-interventions in debates involving actors like Woodrow Wilson, Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, and has taken positions on reforms linked to institutions including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Central Bank. Regular sections address geopolitics tied to crises in regions like Ukraine, Syria, and the South China Sea, corporate affairs involving firms such as Apple Inc., Samsung, and Volkswagen, and science coverage referencing work by figures like Stephen Hawking and projects such as the Large Hadron Collider.
Ownership and management
The publication is owned by The Economist Group, a private company whose shareholders have included families and institutions such as the Cadbury family, Rothschild family, and later investors tied to media and finance like Pearson plc and private equity interests. Company management has encompassed roles occupied by editors-in-chief and CEOs who engaged with corporate governance, audit committees, and boards that interact with regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions including United Kingdom corporate law and international markets such as the New York Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange investors. Strategic decisions have involved mergers, licensing deals, and partnerships with broadcasters such as the BBC, streaming platforms, and global media conglomerates.
Circulation, distribution, and readership
Circulation spans print editions distributed via subscription, newsstands in cities like New York City, Tokyo, Paris, and Mumbai, and institutional bulk subscriptions for libraries at universities including Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Tokyo. Readership demographics attract executives at firms such as Goldman Sachs, diplomats from embassies accredited to London and Brussels, policymakers in ministries in countries like Germany and Australia, and academics at think tanks like the Brookings Institution and Chatham House. The publication tracks paid circulation, audit figures, and demographic analytics tied to advertising clients including multinational advertisers such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble.
Digital presence and multimedia
The organization expanded into online journalism with digital editions, mobile applications, podcasts, video channels, and conferences that collaborate with partners such as YouTube, podcast platforms tied to Apple Inc., and streaming services. Multimedia initiatives include investigative projects that utilize datasets from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, interactive graphics on topics like the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008), and event series hosting panels with figures from the World Economic Forum and leaders from corporations like Microsoft and Google.
Notable contributors and columnists
Contributors have included political and economic commentators, correspondents, and columnists who later became prominent in public life, among them journalists and public intellectuals associated with institutions such as Harvard Kennedy School, London School of Economics, and newspapers like The Times (London), The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Past writers and editors have gone on to roles in government ministries, central banks such as the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve, and international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme.
Controversies and criticism
The publication has faced criticism and controversies over editorial positions during episodes like debates on the Iraq War, coverage of financial crises involving banks such as Lehman Brothers, and stances on international interventions featuring actors like NATO and leaders including Tony Blair. Critics from political parties including the Labour Party (UK), think tanks like Policy Exchange and Institute for Public Policy Research, and journalists at outlets such as The Guardian and Der Spiegel have disputed its analyses, prompting discussions about bias, representation, and influence among policymakers, advertisers, and academic audiences.
Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom