Intelligent World News Coverage, to Keep you in Touch

I subscribe to a large number of magazines. Most of my subscriptions were complimentary, given to me free of charge by the publisher. Others have to be paid for and some of them have proven to be more valuable and more enjoyable than others.

I change magazines frequently. What seems like a good read one month can quickly change a few months later, prompting me to drop the subscription and switch to something else. One magazine that I have always enjoyed and that has remained on my “keeper” list over the years is The Economist, a weekly publication that keeps readers informed about world news, politics, trade, and the global economy.

Features of This Magazine:

The Economist includes regular monthly features that are a little different from the typical news magazine. Here’s what you will find in each issue:

Leaders- This section includes short articles about newsworthy events surrounding world leaders or world events.

Letters- These are letters to the editor, responding to articles that were published in the previous few weeks.

Special Report- This is a 3 to 5 page section that centers around some important issue or topic relating to the world economy or global stability. It could be an article (or two) on war, world trade, or anything else that deserves special mention.

United States- The U.S. economy, politics, elections, state issues, education, and many other topics relating to the USA are found in this 5 to 10 page section.

The Americas- Any important world news, political and economical, relating to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, or South America can be found here, including stories that sometimes overlap with the United States.

Asia- Japan, China, and India are among the important countries covered in this section which keeps the reader informed of events taking place in the far east.

Middle East and Africa- The African continent, along with the oil- producing nations like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and others are featured in this section.

Europe- The continent of Europe takes center stage here, with articles about elections, banking, tariffs, and other items of world interest. Some of these stories focus on one country while others speak in more general terms about the continent.

Britain- The Economist originated in England, so it only makes sense that Britain would get its own section of news stories. These articles tackle any number of issues, from England’s involvement in the Iraqi war to labor relations to the latest trends in export music.

Business- This section includes general articles about business conditions around the world and company- specific articles about new business ventures and business problems and regulations.

Finance and Economics- One of my favorite parts of the magazine, this section centers on banking, foreign aid, insurance, real estate, etc.

Science and Technology- This section is like a combination of Popular Science and Popular Electronics magazines. It includes articles about space exploration, improvements in manufacturing, new gadgets, medicine, etc.

Books and Arts- Book reviews, performing arts, and other artsy related news stories are featured in this area.

Obituary- This is usually a one- page section that summarizes the life and times of an individual who has recently passed. These people can be heads of state, authors, sports legends, or any other person who is famous.

Economic and Financial Statistics- Found near the end of each issue, this includes charts showing comparisons among 15 key, industrialized nations showing how they measure up in areas like interest rates, stock market prices, wages, unemployment, and other key economic measures.

Emerging Market Indicators- Found on the last page of each issue, this section shows two tables along with some graphs showing the trade balance, GDP, currency rates, and financial market data for a set of 25 countries. It shows the current levels plus the improvement (or decline) in the past year for each of the economic indicators. The countries featured include those that are 2nd- world and show promise for growth and improvement, like India, South Korea, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Egypt, etc.

Each issue is staple- bound and contains between 90 and 110 pages. Advertisements cover about 35% of the pages, but many of these are professional classified ads at the back of the magazine that pertain to institutions of higher learning and job positions. As far as general ads go (for basic merchandise and services), they cover about 25% of the pages, which is actually a little bit less than most of the magazines I read.

Costs to Subscribe:

One thing you will notice right away if you look into a subscription to the Economist is that it isn’t cheap! The standard rate for a 30- week subscription is $59.90! That works out to just under $2.00 per issue, which is a savings of about 60% from the cover price. But it’s still a high price to pay for seven months’ worth of magazines.

Speaking of the cover price, the Economist has one of the highest costs of any magazine its size. The cover price is $4.95 (!), making the Economist the type of magazine that many people would rather just browse through than purchase.

Final Thoughts:

Given my background and my interests in politics and economics, it should come as no surprise that the Economist is one of my favorite magazines. I love most everything about this publication, from its intelligent, well- written pieces on world economic news to its helpful illustrations with graphics and maps.

The articles written in this magazine are thorough and to the point, and they try to present many sides of the same issue. I enjoy the writing and the focus on world news and concerns. There are stories about the United States, but these include only a portion of the magazine. The writers and editors of the Economist recognize that the U.S. is an important economic force, but they also realize that other countries have interesting and newsworthy events as well. The magazine covers the entire globe, with articles that inform and educate the reader on all sorts of world- wide concerns, like disease, poverty, economic growth, and other important issues.

I really enjoy the information angle that the Economist takes on various topics. First and foremost, the Economist educates the reader. To help illustrate the point, there are graphs throughout the magazine, allowing the reader to visually see what statistic the article is trying to convey to him/her. The graphs include mostly bar graphs, for making comparisons, and tables of data. Sometimes, pie charts and line graphs are also added, to help illustrate a point. I know that some people don’t particularly like this type of information, but I think it’s very helpful when I can visualize something in graphic form. When people start talking in billions and trillions, many readers get intimated and confused. But when you can see things presented in graphic illustration, statistics take on a whole new perspective.

The Economist is a tough magazine to find. Even large, well- stocked bookstores that carry hundreds of different magazines will often not offer the Economist. In addition to the difficulty in finding a printed copy, it’s often very tough to locate a place to subscribe. I often receive offers in the mail to subscribe to magazines directly, to cash in award points for magazines, and to enter contests where they encourage you to buy magazines. Even with so many publications to choose from, it’s very rare that the Economist is listed among the selections. Thankfully, the internet has helped to make subscribing a little easier. But don’t hold your breath if you think you can find a cheaper, more competitive price on a subscription. I have checked many on- line sources and I cannot find any price that deviates more than a few pennies from the per- copy subscription price of roughly $2.00

It’s interesting that the articles in this magazine are not signed. There is no indication of who wrote what article. Presumably, the Economist does this to show that their business is more of a group than the individual sum of its parts. They don’t want readers to get all wound up over certain writers, so they don’t even let you know who wrote what.

The Economist is a much more serious magazine, intended more for intellectual types and educators. Unlike American news magazines, which are more likely to contain stories on trivial nonsense to keep all readers entertained, the Economist sticks mostly to important world news. Even when an article is presented about music or the arts, it is done in a professional way, with the business side receiving more emphasis than the personal side.

Overall, the Economist is one of the world’s best news and economics magazines. It combines the subjects of politics and economy, with an occasional splash of art, books, and music, to create an excellent weekly publication. The subscription price is high, but if you can get your hands on a copy, I recommend doing so. It’s very educational and informative and it helps keep readers on top of important world events, economic trends, and political happenings.