Model fits to mock datasets used as tests. Top row: black lines show the true value of the birthrate α_i parameters. The orange lines show the estimated α_i parameters for three different realisations of the mock datasets generated from the same initial parameters. The orange shaded areas correspond to the 1- and 2-σ levels. Bottom row: black histograms represent the magnitude distribution of three different mock datasets. The thick orange histograms represent the magnitude distribution obtained by using the best fit α_i. The dashed histograms represent the magnitude distribution obtained by using the 16th and 84th percentiles for α_i.