The compact g and the question mark are quite distinctive. The first poster appeared in 1984, so the typeface was pre-digital.

It appears to be some form of Baskerville, but I haven't found a match yet.

Here are some links about the ad series:
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21602717-ad-mirable
http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2012/october/economist-prints

Yea it is kinda high contrast and sharp. Baskerville old face seems a little off.

All I know is that _The Economist_ has a long history of bespoke typefaces. Some such as the Officina Display used on the cover were under limited term exclusive license. Others, such as this one seems to be, may not have been released for public sale. You might ask _The Economist_ for information on the ad series typeface.
Don

The answer? http://www.economist.com/help/about-us

Our logo
The corporate logotype of The Economist has evolved from the gothic lettering used on the cover of the first issue, published in 1843, to the box device designed in 1959 by Reynolds Stone, a British engraver and typographer. It now incorporates a font from The Economist Typefamily, a typeface created specifically for our use.

More details on The Economist typeface
The Economist has used a specially designed family of typefaces since May 1991. Development work focused specifically on how the new type family would respond to electronic transmission and different printing conditions at The Economist's seven international production sites. In our recent re-design a new typeface, Officina, was introduced for cover headlines and all navigational information. Ecotype, The Economist's main typeface, was also redrawn to make it easier to read. If you would like to buy a copy of our type family, or if you would simply like to find out more about it, please go to Agfa Monotype's website.

I am familiar with that article and a couple of others in the same vein. Unfortunately none of them mention the typeface used by David Abbott. So the question remains unanswered.
Don

Alright, I guess this is as far as it goes. Thanks for replying guys!

Found another link. The font appeared to be a proprietary face called, unimaginatively, Headline:

http://www.phaidon.com/agenda/graphic-design/articles/2012/october/16/de...

Also this link:
http://www.daidala.com/30nov2003.html

I came across both of those links too
"Created by London agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, the witty posters used the journal's own Headline typeface..", I assumed it meant using the headline font in the publication.

That's how I first read Headline, then I realized it must refer to a bespoke typeface...

The Phaidon book may have more info--may be worth a trip to the bookstore to check it out.

Que es "bookstore"?

I have a Barnes & Noble and two independent (!) bookstores within easy driving distance. While the BN location has seriously shrunk its art/design section, I can still find a decent selection of the same at the other two (though both also have downsized drastically in the past year).

I avoid Amazon unless circumstances compel....