Factors of Scale, Solvability, and Neglectedness in Problem Solving

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The effectiveness of problem solving can be assessed through three key factors: scale, solvability, and neglectedness. Scale refers to the scope of the problem, while solvability is a constant that approximates the likelihood of finding a solution, independent of the resources applied. Neglectedness quantifies the degree of attention a problem receives—more specifically, it reflects the ratio of resources (people or funding) to the existing input directed at the problem. If many resources are already allocated, the marginal benefit from adding more resources diminishes. Conversely, for issues that are underfunded or have fewer participants, there is a larger potential impact from additional contributions. This framework helps prioritize efforts in addressing problems by identifying those that are solvable, scalable, and neglected, maximizing the effectiveness of resources deployed to tackle them.

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What's the best way to think about building an impactful career? Should everyone try to work in fields related to existential risks? Should people find work in a problem area even if they can't work on the very "best" solution within that area? What does it mean for a particular job or career path to be a "good fit" for someone? What is "career capital"? To what extent should people focus on developing transferable skills? What are some of the most useful cross-domain skills? To what extent should people allow their passions and interests to influence how they think about potential career paths? Are there formulas that can be used to estimate how impactful a career will be for someone? And if there are, then how might people misuse them? Should everyone aim to build a high-leverage career? When do people update too much on new evidence?

Benjamin Hilton is a research analyst at 80,000 Hours, where he's written on a range of topics from career strategy to nuclear war and the risks from artificial intelligence. He recently helped re-write the 80,000 Hours career guide alongside its author and 80,000 Hours co-founder, Ben Todd. Before joining 80,000 Hours, he was a civil servant, working as a policy adviser across the UK government in the Cabinet Office, Treasury, and Department for International Trade. He has master’s degrees in economics and theoretical physics, and has published in the fields of physics, history, and complexity science. Learn more about him on the 80,000 Hours website, or email him at benjamin.hilton@80000hours.org.

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