Complexity results for explanations in the structural-model approach Original Research Article

We analyze the computational complexity of Halpern and Pearlʹs (causal) explanations in the structural-model approach, which are based on their notions of weak and actual cause. In particular, we give a precise picture of the complexity of deciding explanations, α-partial explanations, and partial explanations, and of computing the explanatory power of partial explanations. Moreover, we analyze the complexity of deciding whether an explanation or an α-partial explanation over certain variables exists. We also analyze the complexity of deciding explanations and partial explanations in the case of succinctly represented context sets, the complexity of deciding explanations in the general case of situations, and the complexity of deciding subsumption and equivalence between causal models. All complexity results are derived for the general case, as well as for the restriction to the case of binary causal models, in which all endogenous variables may take only two values. To our knowledge, no complexity results for explanations in the structural-model approach have been derived so far. Our results give insight into the computational structure of Halpern and Pearlʹs explanations, and pave the way for efficient algorithms and implementations.