The Economist Magazine Review

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.

Magazine Commentary:

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.

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 a collection of individual 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.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

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. It's one of the most intelligent magazines available today.