math.OC — Optimization and Control
Finite VCG and Groves Payments in Lean
We describe a Lean 4 development of finite direct mechanisms with quasi-linear utility and unrestricted real-valued valuations. The Clarke pivot mechanism selects a reported-welfare maximizer and charges each agent the loss in other-agent welfare relative to its maximum over the same fixed alternative set. The development proves efficiency, dominant-strategy truthfulness, nonnegative payments and no deficit, and individual rationality under the explicit assumption that every valuation is nonnegative. It also proves that every efficient, dominant-strategy incentive-compatible mechanism on the full valuation domain has Groves-form payments, with a term independent of the paying agent's report. We explain the finite-maximization interface, the report-update invariants, and the characterization argument using outcome-forcing reports and positive perturbations. The exposition is tied to a specific source revision and separates proved implementations from statement-only comparator placeholders. These are classical mechanism-design results; no new mathematical theorem or formalization-priority claim is made.