Financial Times' 404 page turns economics into a joke about Pareto inefficiency

Financial Times' 404 Page not Found

The Financial Times' 404 page has caught the attention of Hacker News commenters, who noticed its definition of Pareto inefficiency is subtly wrong: it says another page could make everyone better off, when it should say someone. One commenter suspects other definitions they know less well may be deliberately off too. Others joke about a liquidity trap and note the request IDs appear chronological when sorted alphabetically.

I wonder why they chose this description for Pareto inefficiency: "There exists another page that will make everyone better off without making anyone worse off." Instead of the correct "There exists another page that will make someone better off without making anyone worse off." Makes me wonder if all the descriptions I know less about are all subtly wrong on purpose.
  1. Epa095

    I wonder why they chose this description for Pareto inefficiency:

    There exists another page that will make everyone better off without making anyone worse off.

    Instead of the correct

    There exists another page that will make someone better off without making anyone worse off.

    Makes me wonder if all the descriptions I know less about are all subtly wrong on purpose.

  2. themadturk

    This took me back nearly fifty years to my Econ classes, and I have been re-traumatized.

  3. laurensr

    Their request IDs seem to be chronological when sorted alphabetically.

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2026-09-13