The European Investment Bank, development banks, and the promotion of public-private partnerships

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the role of the European Investment Bank and other development banks around the world in the promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). It provides an explanation of the analytical approach adopted in this chapter which is focused upon policy entrepreneurs. Development banks use different definitions of PPP and different systems to measure the share of operational activities devoted to PPPs. The European Investment Bank has been at the vanguard of PPP promotion and has been followed by most development banks around the world. Nonetheless, the patterns of EIB activism and policy entrepreneurship outlined in this chapter can be detected in a number of other development banks and merit further analysis. The EIB developed unrivaled PPP expertise among public bodies globally – with the possible exception of the UK Treasury.