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Original Research Article

Data Reliability in Wine Sector Statistics: A Benford's Law Approach to the Portuguese Case

(Just Accepted)
  • Piotr Luty,
  • Hana Bohušová
Piotr Luty
Wroclaw University of Economics and Business
Hana Bohušová
Ambis University, Libeň, Czech Republic
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/wep-17713

Published 2026-02-16

Keywords

  • Wine production,
  • Benford's Law,
  • reporting

How to Cite

Luty, P., & Bohušová, H. (2026). Data Reliability in Wine Sector Statistics: A Benford’s Law Approach to the Portuguese Case. Wine Economics and Policy. https://doi.org/10.36253/wep-17713

Copyright (c) 2024 Piotr Luty, Hana Bohušová

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The wine industry plays a vital role in many national economies, combining agricultural production with cultural heritage and global trade. It contributes significantly to economic value, regional identity, and rural sustainability in Portugal. As international wine markets become increasingly complex, financial and production data reliability is essential for informed regulation, policymaking, and economic analysis. Despite the growing emphasis on viticulture and market dynamics, little research has examined data reliability in the wine sector. This study introduces Benford's Law—a statistical method used to detect anomalies in naturally occurring datasets—as a tool for assessing data integrity. Applying first- and second-digit Benford's Law tests to Portuguese wine industry data from 2014 to 2023, including company-level financial statements and wine production figures, the analysis shows a strong conformity to expected distributions. These results suggest a high level of data reliability, reinforcing confidence in the datasets for future economic and policy use. The study offers a novel application of Benford’s Law in agribusiness, contributing to improved transparency and data quality in the wine sector.

(Just Accepted)

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