The Atlantic launches business site

The Atlantic magazine unveiled a new business and economic news site on Thursday.

In announcing the site, a posting stated, “Sure, the headlines from the business world are dark and dispiriting. That probably makes this a lousy time to start a new hedge fund — but a very good time to start a Web site devoted to decoding the mysteries of today’s economic order.

“At least we hope so. Atlantic Business, the first of several channels we’ll be launching in early 2009 at TheAtlantic.com, is a guide to the policies and debates at the intersection of economics, commerce, and regulation. As power shifts from Wall Street to Washington, our bloggers and writers and data gurus will be here to chronicle and explain the new business landscape.

“Edited by Megan McArdle, who has been lauded by The New York Times‘ David Brooks as a ‘brilliant economic blogger,’ Atlantic Business delivers analysis and commentary from Megan and her team of outside experts, including professors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and journalists. The channel also features commentary from Andrew Sullivan, Marc Ambinder, James Fallows, and other Atlantic writers covering Washington and business.

“The channel’s assistant editor, Conor Clarke, blogs here about economics and also maintains some of the site’s standing features, including What We’re Reading, our collection of the best business stories on the Web today.”