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Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism

  • pivotal mechanism
  • vcg-1.png
  • payment function = max of everyone else's utility when excluding you - when including you (\(i\))
  • so if you're not pivotal, you don't pay anything (as you don't change anything)
  • can be interpreted as, you get paid the sum of others' utility when you exist, and you pay the sum of others' utility when you don't
  • generally >= 0
  • social cost of the individual \(i\)
  • > 0 → you make things worse by existing
  • significance
  • internalize the externality of your choice
  • how your choice affect others will impact your payment