영국에서 1843년 자유무역주의 태동을 지원하기 위해 영국에서 창간된 경제주간지로 전 세계 Business 경향과 사건, 정치, 경제적인 활동 이외에도 외교, 사회, 문화등에 관한 폭넓고 수준 높은 내용으로 그 명성과 권위를 지켜오고 있습니다. 특히, 오랜 전통과 권위에 바탕을 둔 다소 보수적이지만 중후한 논조와 격조 높은 문장은 높이 평가되고 있습니다. 그 주장과 견해는 영국뿐만 아니라, 전 세계 자유주의 국가의 식자층에 대해서도 큰 영향력을 끼치고 있습니다. 외부의 압력을 배제하기 위하여 주식의 양도에는 저명한 일류인사로 이루어진 이사회의 승인을 받아야 하는 제도를 택하고 있으며, 발행부수는 약 130만 부이고, 그 절반 정도는 해외 독자들에 의해서 구독되고 있습니다.

The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843. While The Economist calls itself a 'newspaper', each issue appears on glossy paper, like a newsmagazine. In 2009, it reported an average circulation of just over 1.6 million copies per issue, about half of which are sold in North America. The Economist claims it 'is not a chronicle of economics.' Rather, it aims 'to take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.' It takes an editorial stance based on free trade and globalisation, but also the expansion of government health and education spending, as well as government support of banks and other financial enterprises in danger of bankruptcy. It targets highly educated readers and claims an audience containing many influential executives and policy-makers. The publication belongs to The Economist Group, half of which is owned by the Financial Times, a subsidiary of Pearson PLC. A group of independent shareholders, including many members of the staff and the Rothschild banking family of England, owns the rest. A board of trustees formally appoints the editor, who cannot be removed without its permission. In addition, about two-thirds of the seventy-five staff journalists are based in London, despite the global emphasis.