Basically the problem with neglectedness is that it assumes strictly declining returns like a logarithmic scale. But if the problem has the quality “the more the merrier”, or increasing returns to scale, then neglectedness is a problem. In other words, leverage matters.
In addition, we might also want to use—and take in account—our abilities to look ahead. Suppose for example a worthwhile task that requires two people to engage in it. The first person to engage in it gains zero marginal returns, while the latter gets everything (all of the returns as marginal returns). The first person might however predict the second person’s behavior and based on the expectation that results engage with this task. By contrast, chimpanzees are not able to do this; You would never see two of them cooperate to together e.g. carry a log (research by Joseph Henrich).
Basically the problem with neglectedness is that it assumes strictly declining returns like a logarithmic scale. But if the problem has the quality “the more the merrier”, or increasing returns to scale, then neglectedness is a problem. In other words, leverage matters.
Indeed!
In addition, we might also want to use—and take in account—our abilities to look ahead. Suppose for example a worthwhile task that requires two people to engage in it. The first person to engage in it gains zero marginal returns, while the latter gets everything (all of the returns as marginal returns). The first person might however predict the second person’s behavior and based on the expectation that results engage with this task. By contrast, chimpanzees are not able to do this; You would never see two of them cooperate to together e.g. carry a log (research by Joseph Henrich).