Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/322048 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
ECB Working Paper No. 3037
Publisher: 
European Central Bank (ECB), Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
During his reign from 1979 to 2005, Pope John Paul II visited 129 countries, more than the 263 Popes before him combined. I document a significant increase in exports to trading partners with a relatively high share of Catholics following a Pastoral visit, leading to a non-negligible increase in aggregate exports. The biggest beneficiaries in terms of increased trade are visited countries that are at lower stages of economic development and have relatively few Catholics and weak trade links. The effect is absent for other prominent episodes, such as global sports events or visits by political dignitaries.
Subjects: 
Religion
economic development
international trade
diplomatic relations
trade statistics
JEL: 
Z12
O1
F1
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-899-7122-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.