least effort

A common feature of some of the principles in the MINIMALIST PROGRAMME involving the comparison of alternative SYNTACTIC DERIVATIONS: that derivation is preferred which involves the smallest amount of MOVEMENT of a CONSTITUENT within a particular CONFIGURATION blocks all others. It is one of various specific ECONOMY principles (another is LAST RESORT) which have been made to maintain a minimalist perspective in the evaluation of derivations. Examples of such principles are SHORTEST MOVE, GREED, and PROCRASTINATE.