Articles
Go Movies or Go Home?
Owen Milstone explores how piracy threatens entertainment industries by diverting revenue from legal sources. Despite high spending by companies like Netflix, rising costs and labor disputes worsen the issue. The tragedy of the commons applies, where individual benefit outweighs collective harm, leading to widespread piracy. It affects TV, movies, music, and sports, impacting artists and athletes.
Universal Basic Income: The Key to the Economy of the Future
In this editorial, Tomas Serrano dives into the push for universal basic income (UBI) as a solution to poverty and income inequality has gained traction globally, especially in light of job displacement from advancements in AI. In Canada, bill S-233 seeks to establish a national framework for UBI, inspired by historical experiments like Manitoba's MINCOME.
Despite concerns about abuse, inflation, and costs, supporters argue that UBI could provide a safety net, aid workforce reintegration amidst automation, and foster a society where individuals pursue passions.
The Mistiming of Creation and Destruction During AI Innovation
Eric van Remmen discusses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and job markets, drawing parallels with historical instances of creative destruction. It highlights the potential risks and societal impacts of AI's rapid advancement, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address these challenges and ensure societal resilience.
From Bean-To-Bar: An Overview of Chocolate’s Enduring Success
Despite its simple composition of four main ingredients, chocolate has evolved into a highly diverse product, offering thousands of variations in packaging, branding, and marketing strategies. This editorial by Jeremiah Lim delves into the rich history, innovation, and significance of chocolate, shedding light on its enduring appeal and the strategic intricacies behind its portrayal by different brands. Through an exploration of chocolate's market dynamics and strategies, he is able to provide a deeper understanding of one of the most important and mass-consumed pieces of confectionery in the entire world.
The Five Pillars of Sustainable Innovation
As the Earth's fragility becomes more apparent, our challenges arise with the potential for drastic innovation. Envision a colossal robot, not of steel and smoke, but constructed from the very fibers of nature—a metaphor for a future where technology and sustainability are inextricably linked. This image sets the stage for a profound inquiry: What opportunities await in this juxtaposition of crisis and ingenuity? Join Jacoby Goodson, former Editor in Chief, as he delves into five critical questions, gleaning insights from the pioneers engineering our sustainably tech-driven tomorrow.
Brewing Success: McDonald’s Innovative Venture into Specialty Beverages with CosMc’s
In our latest editorial, QBR Editor Lauren MacDonald delves into McDonald’s bold venture into the specialty beverage market with the launch of CosMc’s. This strategic move, aimed at challenging beverage giants like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, underscores McDonald’s intent to diversify its revenue streams and enhance its brand power. MacDonald examines the implications of CosMc’s introduction, assessing its potential to attract a new demographic and integrate seamlessly into consumers’ daily routines. Through a critical analysis, she explores whether CosMc’s signifies a refreshing innovation in McDonald’s portfolio or if it represents a leap of faith into a fiercely competitive arena. This editorial offers a comprehensive look at CosMc’s journey, from its inception to its market positioning, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for McDonald’s in redefining its legacy within the quick-service restaurant industry.
Justified Balancing or Cash Grab?
In our latest editorial, QBR Editor Gefen Shpil delves into the contentious issue around streaming giants like Netflix cracking down on password sharing, examining the thin line between necessary business growth and perceived corporate greed. Shpil navigates through the complexities of subscriber dynamics, market competition, and consumer loyalty in the face of these new restrictions. This piece offers a critical analysis of password sharing policies and their broader impact on the digital streaming landscape, providing a deeper understanding of the strategic considerations behind these moves and their implications for the future of content access and consumer relationships.
How To Stop Living on Autopilot—and Other Lessons Learned
In our latest editorial, QBR Senior Finance Editor Ben Kavanagh unveils the transformative power of intentional living. Through personal anecdotes and a deep dive into self-help wisdom, Kavanagh challenges the notion that busyness equals success, advocating instead for a life led with purpose. He explores the significance of swift decision-making, the resilience found in embracing failure, and the strategic alignment of one's efforts with innate strengths. Highlighting the importance of community and genuine self-reflection, this piece encourages readers to step off autopilot and navigate towards a fulfilling, consciously chosen path.
How Canada’s Housing Inflation Numbers & Policy Ignores New Homeowners
In our latest finance editorial, QBR Editor Petar Mijacevic delves into the Bank of Canada's method for measuring inflation in housing, and how it has produced a disconnect between reporting housing inflation and the actual rise in housing costs for new and prospective Canadian homeowners and renters. Through the lens of the current inflationary and high interest rate environment, Mijacevic discusses how this has affected the Bank of Canada's monetary policy decisions and how to move forward in measuring housing inflation.
The Role of Government in Corporate Social Responsibility - DRC Conflict Minerals Explained
In our latest editorial, QBR Editor Charvi Guduru navigates the intricate issue of conflict minerals in the DRC, analyzing the intersection of government policy and corporate ethics. Highlighting the dual-edged sword of mineral wealth versus societal cost, the article evaluates the efficacy of measures like the Dodd-Frank Act's Section 1502 in mitigating the adverse impacts of mineral extraction. Guduru advocates for enhanced transparency, rigorous regulation, and greater public engagement to ensure that government policy reflect national ESG targets. The article reconnects policy with corporate actions to contribute positively to social sustainability and help to end the cycle of exploitation in the DRC.