Inexact Moreau Envelope Lagrangian Method for Non-Convex Constrained Optimization under Local Error Bound Conditions on Constraint Functions

In this paper, we investigate how structural properties of the constraint system impact the oracle complexity of smooth non-convex optimization problems with convex inequality constraints over a simple polytope. In particular, we show that, under a local error bound condition with exponent $d\in[1,2]$ on constraint functions, an inexact Moreau envelope Lagrangian method can attain an $ε$-Karush–Kuhn–Tucker point with $\tilde O(ε^{-2d})$ gradient oracle complexity. When $d=1$, this result matches the best-known complexity in literature up to logarithmic factors. Importantly, the assumed error bound condition with any $d\in[1,2]$ is strictly weaker than the local linear independence constraint qualification that is required to achieve the best-known complexity. Our results clarify the interplay between error bound conditions of constraints and algorithmic complexity, and extend complexity guarantees to a broader class of constrained non-convex problems.

💡 Research Summary

The paper studies smooth non‑convex optimization problems with convex inequality constraints over a simple polytope, focusing on how structural properties of the constraint system affect first‑order oracle complexity. The authors consider the problem

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