What do people think of the Economist magazine?

[RichardRay]

Just curious. I've subscribed for years and find it a useful news source, esp, for international issues that don't get good coverage in most U.S. media.

The other night I was having dinner in a local restaurant. I eat there often, usually sit at the bar and read over dinner. I was reading the Economist that evening. I was accosted by one guy berating me for reading such a right wing fascist publication. I said I didn't think so and pointed out a couple of articles that were clearly not right wing, let alone fascist.

I was immediately accosted by another guy who asked me what 'left wing liberal university' I'd gone to and at which I'd been introduced to such a left leaning publication.

I admit to feeling somewhat whiplashed! I'd had a couple of margharitas and wasn't quite quick enough to point out to both these gentlemen that the fact that they both hated the magazine gave me confidence in its contents, but I thought of that later....

So, who reads it? Why? Who doesn't read it? Why? If you feel it has an unstated bias, what might that be?

Just curious....

[democracyindanger]

1. Socially liberal

fiscally conservative magazine. Anybody who marks it as absolutely left or right has obviously never read it.

[LoneStarLiberal]

2. Very Good...With Certain Drawbacks

The Economist is one of the best world news sources around...and they also have a highly underrated books and art review section.

The one thing you have to keep in mind while reading their opinion pieces is that they are moderately conservative, so if you are looking for trenchant commentary on the failures of the Bush administration, you're not going to find it in The Economist.

[flamingyouth]

3. My parents subscribe and I read it occasionally

(BTW - their latest cover is a classic - Bunnypants in his hardhat... LOL)

I know that the GOP must buy their subscription list because my parents also get repuke mail addressed the same as their Economist subscription.

On the whole, I think it's pretty fair. They don't seem to be overly fond of *, that's for sure.

[swag]

4. My favorite quote about the Economist is

"It's like Time Magazine, only for adults."



I've bent that quote a bit to say, "The Financial Times is like the Wall Street Journal, only for adults."

I think the Economist is a fine rag - a good vehicle for diversifying your news sources, but probably shouldn't be your only news source.

Keep on reading!

[Waistdeep]

5. I've subscribed to it off and on

and one thing that has always impressed me is that the Economist's coverage of nearly any pure science or technology topic has always been of the highest quality --- complete, intelligent and reliable.

[mouse7]

6. Think of it as voice of world business community

The "average" world business community opinion is a lot more liberal on many things than "average" US population opinion on many topics.

It's definitely pro-business, pro-World Bank, pro-WTO. However, not at the expense of all things in society. You can actually find critics of WTO, World Bank policies when said policies veer way too far right. Here in the US business community, the WTO, World Bank can do no wrong.

[David__77]

7. Voice of "liberal capitalism."

By "liberal," I mean it in the internationally-understood sense. That is, free markets with a bit of concern for people's well-being, principally motivated by the need to maintain stability in the social system.

[cprise]

8. It's associated with neo-liberalism

I've read a couple issues, and they also send me subscription forms with sample articles. Socially liberal, and economically Right-wing. They are closely associated with Tony Blair and his policies.

That was a funny situation you were in :-) Most Americans do not distinguish between economic and social policy (it's all left/right, black/white) so that explains the ridiculous confusion you witnessed.