The economic consequences of Lent

By R.L.W. and G.D.

What believers save for their suffering

LENT ends today, Holy Thursday. After 40 days of fasting and reflecting, the world's 1.2 billion Catholics can prepare for Easter—and finally sink their teeth into a chocolate bar, light up a cigarette, quaff a coffee or pour themselves a well-deserved single malt. Though the faithful give up life's material luxuries for spiritual purposes, their wallets also benefit. Looking at the most common items that people eschew—like alcohol, cigarettes and fast food—Catholics living in Dublin will have saved the most, around $780 if they resisted all the vices in our index. Cutting out 20 cigarettes a day makes up the bulk of the savings, $468. Meanwhile in Lisbon, where the prices of similar goods are less, Catholics wouldn't even save that amount if they gave up all the daily treats. In Nigeria, where around 15% are Catholic, those in Lagos would save most by denying themselves fast food. Wine and beer save believers the most cash in São Paulo, Brazil, the country home to the most Catholics in the world.