The Economist has a problem

The Economist has a book problem: its staff can’t stop writing them. It’s become something of a rite of passage for mid-career journalists looking for time off: get hired to the Economist, scribble a proposal together and then bang: twelve months in, sign with a publisher and vanish.

 But sources tell Spy the number of Economist writers going on book leave is getting out of control. Senior management are worried entire desks will be left empty, because everyone is busy working on their latest tome. So far, the lack of bylines means most of the mag’s readers are largely unaware of the staff churn – but will execs get tough and crack down on the practice? If the supply of writers is constrained by cushy labour agreements, the Economist's demands of its staff could tighten up.