Deciphering the European Investment Bank: History, Politics and Economics examines the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's financial institution and the largest lender and borrower among the International Financial Institutions.
Since its establishment in 1958, the EIB has developed without becoming front-page news and has remained highly invisible. By putting together 14 chapters that analyze topical and meaningful moments and aspects of the bank, this edited book offers the first comprehensive analysis of its origins and its evolution in terms of its mandate, governance, structures, policy activity, and performance. Written by acknowledged experts from various disciplines, the chapters weave together history, economics, law, and political science to provide a multidisciplinary examination and capture the complexity of the EIB. The book is a timely initiative for understanding the EIB, whose role has been ever increasing for contributing to the recent global economic challenges, including the economic and financial crisis, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic.
The chapters are written at a level which will be comprehensible to undergraduates in economics, history, and international political economy. It will also be a valuable source of reference for academics, policy makers, bankers, and other practitioners interested in regional development banks and their role in the global economy.
About the Author: Lucia Coppolaro is associate professor of international history at the University of Padova (Italy). Her research interests lie in the fields of international economic institutions and international trade. She has published numerous articles in journals including Contemporary European History and The International History Review.
Helen Kavvadia is researcher in residence at the University of Luxembourg. She was a Senior Adviser at the European Investment Bank. Her research and publications focus on political economy and economic diplomacy, with special interest in the regional development banks.
