Was the break from Rome in England and elsewhere in Europe during the reformation cause a noticeable decrease in the level of income the Papacy generated? And if so, what effect did this have on the Catholic Church as a whole?
I have been interested in this topic and the catholic finance situation in general. Can someone suggest some books?
I can't speak for the Reformation, but 150 years or so before, the Western Schism certainly impacted Church finance. From 1378 to 1417, there were two (and later, three) claimants to the Papacy. Despite any sentiment for Papal finance reform, the various Papacies found them selves in need of even larger annates and taxes, as they were only receiving half or a third of their revenues before the schism.
I would assume the sudden lack of people willing to pay the Church would cause a similar situation in the Reformation.