RESUMEN: Este artículo examina la actuación del Banco Europeo de Inversiones (BEI) bajo un marco de estudio adaptado al estudio comparativo de las Organizaciones Financieras Internacionales (OFIs). Basándose en investigaciones previas, contribuye a la literatura emergente en análisis comparativo de políticas. Proporciona las directrices para analizar y comparar OFIs altamente criticadas como el BEI, el mayor prestamista mundial pese a la poca atención académica recibida.
ABSTRACT: This paper explores the performance of the European Investment Bank (EIB) under an adapted framework for the comparative study of International Financial Organizations (IFOs). Building on previous research it contributes to the emerging literature on comparative policy analysis. It provides the guidelines needed to analyse and compare highly criticized IFOs like the EIB, the largest worldwide lender despite the scant academic attention paid to it. The paper argues the EIB shows signs of bad performance; policy output does not fulfil the institution?s goals as stated in the Statutes. To demonstrate this, the article leads the way in providing the first combined qualitative and quantitative analysis of EIB lending to European Union members from 1991 to 2015. We conclude by stressing the progressive mechanization of EIB loans at the expense of securing the institution’s mission.
