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The Economist | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Industry | Bourgeois media |
| Founded | September 1843 |
| Founder | James Wilson |
| Key people | (Editor) Zanny Minton Beddoes |
| Ownership | The Economist Group |
| Website | |
| www.economist.com | |
The Economist is a British weekly news magazine, newspaper and digital media organization founded in 1843 by businessman and politician James Wilson. It covers international politics, economics, business, finance, science, technology and culture and is published by The Economist Newspaper Limited, part of The Economist Group.[1]
Most articles in The Economist are published without individual bylines. The publication states that anonymous authorship is intended to maintain a consistent collective editorial voice rather than emphasizing individual journalists.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
The Economist was founded in 1843 by James Wilson, a Scottish businessman and manufacturer who opposed the Corn Laws, which placed tariffs and restrictions on imported grain. The publication was created as part of the political campaign for free trade and explicitly sought to influence merchants and businesspeople.[2]
The newspaper survived the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 and expanded its coverage beyond trade and economics into politics and international affairs. Under editor Walter Bagehot during the nineteenth century, it developed a particularly strong interest in government, finance and the United States.[2]
Despite its modern magazine format, The Economist traditionally describes itself as a newspaper. It publishes weekly in print and continuously through digital platforms, podcasts, video and other media.[1]
Ownership[edit | edit source]
The Economist is published by The Economist Group, a privately held British media company. The company's ownership structure is divided among several classes of shares and is deliberately structured so that no single shareholder can obtain majority control.[3]
As of 2026, Exor holds approximately 43.4% of The Economist Group's share capital. In April 2026, Stephen Smith and his family holding company acquired a 26.95% stake previously held by Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, her family and the ERANDA Rothschild Foundation. The company states that no single shareholder constitutes a controlling party.[4]
The Group also maintains special trust shares intended to protect editorial independence. The editor of The Economist is appointed subject to approval by independent trustees rather than directly by ordinary commercial shareholders.[3] The current editor, Zanny Minton Beddoes, previously worked at the International Monetary Fund and as an adviser to the Polish finance ministry.[5]
Political orientation[edit | edit source]
The Economist has historically presented capitalism, markets and international commerce not simply as economic institutions but as central mechanisms for human development. Its founding philosophy explicitly drew upon Adam Smith's belief that private profit-seeking coordinated through markets could produce wider social benefits.[2]
The publication has historically supported free trade, globalization, privatization, market competition, open immigration and socially liberal reforms. It has also supported causes such as drug legalization, same-sex marriage and environmental policies including carbon pricing while remaining strongly committed to private enterprise and capitalist markets.[6]
The Economist does not maintain permanent loyalty to a single political party and has endorsed candidates from different bourgeois political traditions. Its historical endorsements have included Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.[7]
See also[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About us". The Economist Group.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Economist Group brand style guide". The Economist Group.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Environmental, Social and Governance". The Economist Group.
- ↑ "The Economist Group annual report and accounts 2026". The Economist Group.
- ↑ "Zanny Minton Beddoes". The Economist.
- ↑ "The Economist Open Future style guide". The Economist.
- ↑ "The Economist - Bias and Credibility". Media Bias/Fact Check.