When I formalize “tractability” it turns out to be directly related to neglectedness. If R is the number of resources invested in a problem currently, and u(r) is the difference in world utility from investing 0 v.s. r resources into the problem, and u_total is u(r) once the problem is solved, then tractability turns out to be:
Tractability = u’(R) * R * 1/ u_total
So I’m not sure I really understand yet why tractability wouldn’t change much with neglectedness. I have preliminary understanding, though, which I’m writing up in another comment.
Ah, I see now that within a problem, tractability shouldn’t change as the problem gets less neglected if you assume that u(r) is logarithmic, since then the derivative is like 1/R, making tractability like 1/u_total
When I formalize “tractability” it turns out to be directly related to neglectedness. If R is the number of resources invested in a problem currently, and u(r) is the difference in world utility from investing 0 v.s. r resources into the problem, and u_total is u(r) once the problem is solved, then tractability turns out to be:
Tractability = u’(R) * R * 1/ u_total
So I’m not sure I really understand yet why tractability wouldn’t change much with neglectedness. I have preliminary understanding, though, which I’m writing up in another comment.
Ah, I see now that within a problem, tractability shouldn’t change as the problem gets less neglected if you assume that u(r) is logarithmic, since then the derivative is like 1/R, making tractability like 1/u_total