The Economist, one of the world’s foremost economic journals, was founded by James Wilson, a passionate believer in the socially improving effects of free trade. James Wilson was also a banker and politician originally addressed the concerns of business dealing in commodities, railroads, and other investments.
The journal was edited by his more famous son-in-law, Walter Bagehot, from 1860 to 1877, contained regular reports on the money market the stock market and the course of foreign trade.
James Wilson was its first editor and laid its foundations firmly on the classical economics of Adam Smith, Ricardo, James Mill and Tooke.
After his death Wilson’s six daughters retained severally or individually, a financial interest until the paper was taken over in 1938 by the maverick Tory MP Brendan Bracken.
The journal use of illustration other than business charts was minimal until the 1930s, but its department organization, broad scope and use of graphics is similar in the late 1980s to American news weeklies.
Today circulation is about 1.5 million (2012). Its coverage is thus international, with existence reporting on Europe, America and Asia as well as Britain.
The Economist
