'Regional Development Banks in Comparison is one of the most important studies of regional development banks to date. Based on an impressive array of empirical evidence, Ruth Ben-Artzi demonstrates that, because these institutions tend to emphasize their banking goals, they have failed to meet their mandate of providing poorer countries with development assistance. The result is a book that makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of economic development, international institutions, and globalization.' Edward D. Mansfield, Hum Rosen Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania 'Regional Development Banks in Comparison is a wonderful example of mixed-methods social science research. Ruth Ben-Artzi does a masterful job describing the split personalities of the world's most important regional development banks (RDBs) and asks whether their policy behavior reflects their identities as banks or as development institutions. The answer varies over time and across institutions, and the behavior of RDBs can be explained by synthesizing different theories of international organization. This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of RDBs, but also for anyone trying to figure out how to reform existing institutions or explain the behavior of new institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.' Michael J. Tierney, Hylton Professor of Government and International Relations, College of William and Mary, Virginia