Comparative examination of Benford's Law and the demographic distribution by canton and gender in Ecuador.

Abstract

Benford's Law, a statistical tool used to detect data manipulation and prevent fraud, analyzes the logarithmic distribution of the first digits in data sets. When the values coincide with what is expected by this law, the integrity of the information is presumed, but significant deviations suggest manipulation. A recent study applied this law to evaluate the integrity of population data in Ecuador, considering distributions by canton and gender. The results indicate consistency between the data collected and the Benford's Law patterns, suggesting integrity in these data sets. This tool is effective in detecting possible anomalies, crucial to prevent fraud and maintain the quality of the information.