Economist Impact

What Economist Impact does

Economist Impact, operating commercially as Economist Enterprise, is the B2B partnerships and policy-research division of The Economist Group (founded 1843), headquartered in London with a 197-person team. It serves corporations, foundations, NGOs, and governments through bespoke engagements that combine four service lines: independent research and thought leadership, client-branded custom content, advertising and sponsorship, and large-scale and custom events. The unit's product portfolio is organized into five thematic initiatives — The Food Imperative, The Health Dividend, Resilient Futures, Tech Frontiers, and The Future of Trade — plus the Economist Enterprise Events platform (over 80 events annually in 30+ countries) and the Perspectives weekly newsletter.

Revenue is generated through quote-based, multi-year bespoke partnerships (no pricing is publicly disclosed; sales inquiries route through [email protected]), with named partners including MSD, Google/Jigsaw, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (with Johns Hopkins Center), and The Nippon Foundation. The underlying technology is not a software platform in the traditional SaaS sense; it is a research, content, and events delivery capability layered on top of the Economist Group's 75-year evidence-based policy research archive and global newsroom infrastructure, spanning 205 countries. Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales, the events platform, owned digital properties (insights.economistenterprise.com, events.economist.com), and social channels.

Economist Impact operates as a privately held division rather than an independent company; no funding rounds, acquisitions, leadership changes, or financial disclosures are present in the source material. Areas of expertise are grouped into Health & Society, Energy & Environment, Trade & Geopolitics, and Technology & Innovation. The unit has no disclosed proprietary AI products or data assets; AI features as a research topic within Tech Frontiers rather than as a core deliverable.

Name

Economist Impact

Legal name

The Economist Newspaper Limited

Website

https://economistimpact.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1843

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Economist Impact, a 197-person London-based division of The Economist Group, delivers bespoke policy research, branded content, events, and advertising partnerships to corporations, foundations, NGOs, and governments across sustainability, health, technology, and trade themes globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Media Representatives (541840)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA), Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business (EDAMAHAK)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Thought leadership content
• Corporate events management
• Policy analysis consulting
• Bespoke research partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Research & Thought Leadership Partnerships: Bespoke partnerships providing independent research, policy analysis, and thought leadership content for corporate, foundation, NGO, and government clients.
2. Client-Branded Content: Custom-branded content creation for partners seeking to establish authority on specific themes including sustainability, health, and globalization.
3. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising and sponsorship placements across Economist Group platforms and events.
4. Events: Large-scale and custom events hosting over 80 events annually in over 30 countries, generating revenue through speaker fees, attendance, and sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Economist Impact (also operating as Economist Enterprise) is the policy research and thought leadership division of The Economist Group. It crafts bespoke partnerships with corporations, foundations, NGOs, and governments by combining independent research, client-branded custom content, advertising and sponsorship, and large-scale and custom events. Its work is organized around five thematic leadership initiatives (The Food Imperative, The Health Dividend, Resilient Futures, Tech Frontiers, and The Future of Trade) that span policy research, creative storytelling, expert perspectives, and global events.

Product overview

Economist Impact (Economist Enterprise) is a policy research and thought leadership organization that operates as a portfolio of capabilities rather than a unified software product. The core offering consists of independent research and thought leadership, client-branded custom content, advertising and sponsorship, and large-scale/custom events. The portfolio includes five thematic initiatives—The Food Imperative, The Health Dividend, Resilient Futures, Tech Frontiers, and The Future of Trade—each combining policy research, creative storytelling, and events. Supporting offerings include Economist Enterprise Events (hosting 80+ events annually across 30+ countries) and the Perspectives weekly newsletter. Areas of expertise span Health & Society, Energy & Environment, Trade & Geopolitics, and Technology & Innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Economist Enterprise Events: Event hosting division that brings rigour, informed analysis and intelligent debate to life on stage and virtually, hosting over 80 events in over 30 countries year-round
• The Food Imperative
• The Health Dividend
• Resilient Futures
• Tech Frontiers
• The Future of Trade

Products and services

• The Food Imperative Branded leadership initiative addressing global food insecurity through independent research, policy analysis, expert perspectives, creative storytelling and events for partner organizations.
• The Health Dividend Branded initiative exploring health as a driver of economic growth, combining research, policy analysis and events to inform debate on health outcomes for partner organizations.
• Resilient Futures Branded initiative focused on sustainable urban development, bringing together independent research, expert perspectives and creative storytelling for partner organizations.
• Tech Frontiers Branded initiative examining the transformative power of technology, covering AI and data systems, semiconductors, robotics, quantum technologies, space and Earth observation, advanced manufacturing, new materials, networks and communications, and emerging human-machine interfaces for partner organizations.
• The Future of Trade Branded initiative analyzing how global trade, finance and geopolitics shape economic strength and resilience, spanning supply chains, goods and services, digital trade, banking and finance, geopolitics and risk, and business resilience for partner organizations.
• Economist Enterprise Events Events platform hosting over 80 events in more than 30 countries year-round, bringing rigorous, informed analysis and intelligent debate to life on stage and virtually for partner organizations and attendees.
• Perspectives Newsletter Weekly newsletter delivering the latest research and analysis from Economist Enterprise covering a broad range of topics and global markets for subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 events hosted annually in over 30 countries

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative) & Johns Hopkins CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Global Health Security Index, a flagship leadership initiative in global health security research and benchmarking.
• Google - JigsawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on an online influencing tool measuring violence against women, combining research capabilities with technology platform reach.
• The Nippon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew global ocean initiative with worldwide audience reach, combining foundation funding with Economist's research and communication capabilities.
• MSDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLung Cancer Policy Environment initiative, assessing and analyzing lung cancer policies to drive policy improvements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Economist Intelligence Unit: Sister division of The Economist Group providing country-level economic and political research, forecasts, and advisory to corporations and governments. Directly comparable in offerings (research subscriptions, briefings, advisory), customer base, and parent backing.
• World Economic Forum: International organization convening global leaders through flagship events (Davos), policy research, and multi-stakeholder initiatives. Highly comparable to Economist Impact's mission, initiative structure, events portfolio, and policy research model.
• Brookings Institution: U.S.-based think tank producing policy research, convening events, and partnering with foundations on global development, health, and economic themes. Comparable in research-driven thought leadership, foundation funding model, and event-driven influence.
• Atlantic Council: Think tank producing policy research and global events focused on trade, geopolitics, energy, and technology. Directly comparable to Economist Impact's Trade & Geopolitics and Tech Frontiers initiatives for corporate/foundation sponsorship and convening.
• Reuters Events: Events and content arm of Thomson Reuters hosting large-scale conferences for corporations across similar themes (sustainability, healthcare, finance). Comparable in B2B event business model, sponsorship sales, and senior executive audience.
• Oxford Analytica: Geopolitical and macroeconomic analysis firm delivering daily intelligence, in-depth research, and advisory to corporations and governments. Comparable in B2B policy advisory model and similar client base.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting firm with dedicated practices in sustainability, healthcare, and geopolitics. Competes for the same corporate and government advisory budgets as Economist Impact on policy research and thought leadership engagements.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global strategy consultancy with deep climate & sustainability, healthcare, and global trade practices. Overlaps with Economist Impact in advisory engagements, thought leadership content, and C-suite convening for corporations and foundations.
• Ipsos: Global market research and public opinion polling firm providing survey-based research, analytics, and advisory across industries. Comparable in research methodology and corporate client base, though stronger on quantitative data and weaker on thought leadership.

Emerging players

• Eurasia Group: Geopolitical risk advisory firm providing research, briefings, and consulting to multinationals and investors. Overlaps with Economist Impact's Trade & Geopolitics research and corporate advisory offerings, though narrower in thematic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Economist
• Facebookfacebook.com/economist
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Economist Impact