Economist Intelligence Unit

The Economist Intelligence Unit, or EIU, was founded in 1946 as the research division of The Economist Group. In the aftermath of World War II, businesses and governments needed reliable, data-driven intelligence to navigate international markets, and the EIU stepped in to fill that gap. A major turning point came in 1986 when The Economist Group acquired Business International Corporation, a UK firm founded in 1954 by Eldon Griffiths and Andrew Schonfield. That merger brought deep expertise in cross-border business intelligence, especially for emerging markets, and significantly expanded the EIU's global coverage.

The EIU produces a wide range of analytical products. Its monthly Country Reports cover political, economic, and business developments in nearly 200 countries. Country Forecasts offer five-year economic projections with quarterly updates, covering GDP, inflation, exchange rates, and policy risks. The Risk Service rates countries on sovereign, currency, banking, and political risk. Industry Reports dig into sectors like energy, healthcare, and financial services. And the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, published twice a year, ranks cities by living costs and gets cited constantly by global media. The EIU also offers custom data services and advisory work for corporations, governments, and international organizations.

As of April 2025, the Managing Director is Leon Calvert. He succeeded Robin Bew, who had been Editorial Director and Chief Economist before taking the top role. The EIU maintains editorial independence from The Economist newspaper, a point of pride that reinforces its reputation for neutral, apolitical analysis. Its main competitors include Fitch Solutions, Oxford Economics, Moody's Analytics, and Control Risks. The EIU differentiates itself with over 60 years of historical data, coverage spanning more than 200 countries, and a qualitative, judgment-rich approach that complements the more quantitative offerings of its rivals.[edit]