Articles
Europe’s Hot Take on Air Conditioning
Europe just endured its hottest summer on record, yet most homes across the continent still have no air conditioning. QBR Editor Daneez Ahmed examines why AC has been kept out of reach for millions. From France’s populist AC push to Switzerland's cautious cantons, this article explores how a fight over a single appliance has come to stand in for a much bigger question: how much heat is acceptable to endure today, for a future that is not guaranteed to look any cooler.
Attention Inflation: Exploring the ADHD Diagnosis Increase
In recent years, ADHD diagnoses have risen dramatically. This shift has simultaneously transformed the public perception of the disorder, sparking conversations surrounding who gets access to the diagnosis, and subsequently treatment and accommodations. In this article, Health and Innovation Editor Elizabeth Kim investigates how evolving diagnostic practices have expanded recognition of historically overlooked groups, while also examining the rise of new misconceptions and stigma. The article explores the benefits and unintended consequences of increased ADHD visibility, suggesting that greater recognition must be paired with accuracy, and careful handling treatments to cultivate a deeper public understanding of what living with ADHD can mean.
From Apple Watches to Oura Rings: Inside the Wearable Health Boom
From tracking daily steps to monitoring sleep and recovery, wearable technology has transformed health into something constantly measured and optimized. In this article, Health & Innovation writer Lauren Harhay explores how devices like the Apple Watch, WHOOP, and Oura Ring have become embedded in modern wellness culture. Drawing on recent research, the article explores how wearable technology can encourage healthier habits while also creating a growing reliance on health metrics and constant self-tracking. Harhay considers whether these devices truly improve well-being or if they risk replacing our bodies’ intuition with data.
The Missing Half: Closing the Gap in Women’s Health Research
The “missing half” represents the historical underrepresentation of women in medical research, resulting in gaps in evidence-based care for half of the world’s population. In this article, Health and Innovation Editor Isabel Brick examines the causes and consequences of the gender health research gap, including limited clinical trial representation and underinvestment. The article explores how closing this gap can improve women’s health outcomes while creating significant economic opportunities through increased productivity, healthcare savings, and innovation.
Culture as Commodity: East Asian Flavours and Stardom
In the form of matcha lattes, kimchi salads, and perfectly wrapped buns, East Asian cuisines have burst to the forefront of foodie scenes across North America. As viral popularity fuels rapid innovation and spin-offs vying for market share, Senior Editor Annabella Luo explores the implications of food discovery gained short-form content – and how East Asian communities can retain ownership of the edible pieces of their histories.
Right Talent, Wrong Time: Canadian Youth in the Workforce
After a choppy 2025, Canada's December job gains went almost entirely to older workers while young people lost ground, with youth unemployment more than double the national average. This piece unpacks why the entry-level door has jammed, from an oversupplied labour pool to employer caution and early signs of AI displacement, and warns the scarring effect on a generation will outlast any single business cycle.
How Often is Too Often? Examining Earnings Reports in Modern Capital Markets
In September 2025, the Trump administration floated cutting mandatory earnings reports from quarterly to twice a year, reviving the old argument that frequent reporting makes executives think short-term. This piece pushes back, arguing that short-termism is a governance problem rooted in how executives are paid, and that reporting less would mainly widen the information gap between institutional and retail investors.
Cars Against Humanity: The North American Car Dependency Epidemic
Cars promise freedom, but North America's dependence on them comes at a steep price. This piece traces how postwar policy made driving the default, compares it to Europe's more balanced approach, and lays out the costs, from strained household budgets and expensive sprawl to billions lost to congestion, before pointing toward more walkable, connected cities.
Transparency as a Market Force: How Disclosure Reduces Economic Agency Costs
Can simply requiring companies to share information make them behave better? Drawing on summer research into a Nasdaq board-diversity rule, this piece explores how corporate disclosure works as a low-cost check on managers who might otherwise put their own interests ahead of shareholders.