Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen's return to the 2027 French presidential election is prompting opponent Edouard Philippe to reframe her as a left-wing, fiscally irresponsible candidate. Le Pen's interventionist welfare state platform contrasts with Jordan Bardella's pro-business approach, as her legal reprieve allows her to run after a previous ban.

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac promises reforms to support the private sector and economic growth amid ongoing austerity measures. He faces a June 14 deadline to secure parliamentary approval for his technocratic government, with key parties yet to decide their stance. Political instability and fears of a credit rating downgrade add pressure as Romania seeks €11 billion in EU funding.

The EU and China held talks to address escalating trade tensions following Europe's adoption of a tough new approach. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic met China’s top trade envoy, Li Chenggang, at an OECD meeting to establish a new platform for discussing trade and investment issues.

Migrant Justice, a Vermont immigrant activist group, filed a complaint with the OECD against Ahold Delhaize, parent company of Hannaford, over alleged labor abuses in dairy supply chains. The OECD has initiated mediation, with Migrant Justice seeking Hannaford's participation in its 'Milk With Dignity' program to improve worker protections.

The article argues that while school choice is often promoted as a solution to educational inequality, the quality of education is more influenced by teacher effectiveness than by school selection. It highlights that lower-income parents have limited options compared to higher-income families, and research shows significant variation in teacher effectiveness within schools, which impacts student learning more than school-level choices.

The IMF warns that the Iran war has halted global economic momentum, leading to revised forecasts of slower growth and higher inflation. The conflict disrupted economic stability, with the IMF projecting 3.1% global growth for 2026 and 4.4% inflation this year. The U.S. economy is expected to grow 2.3% but faces rising inflation risks.