Breakdown of Benford’s law for birth data

Marcel Ausloos, C. Herteliu and Bogdan Ileanu ()

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2015, vol. 419, issue C, 736-745

Abstract: Long birth time series for Romania are investigated from Benford’s law point of view, distinguishing between families with a religious (Orthodox and Non-Orthodox) affiliation. The data extend from Jan. 01, 1905 till Dec. 31, 2001, i.e. over 97 years or 35 429 days. The results point to a drastic breakdown of Benford’s law. Some interpretation is proposed, based on the statistical aspects due to population sizes, rather than on human thought constraints when the law breakdown is usually expected. Benford’s law breakdown clearly points to natural causes.

Keywords: Births; Religious community; Orthodoxes; Non-Orthodoxes; Benford’s laws; Time series (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:419:y:2015:i:c:p:736-745

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2014.10.041

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