For example, clients' interests were supposed to have precedence over growth in the firms' revenues.

ECONOMIST: Guru: Marvin Bower | The

The US and Japan have seen a greater focus on stimulus measures compared with Europe, where austerity measures have taken precedence.

BBC: OECD cuts eurozone growth forecasts

Shareholders' interests, they complain, have taken precedence over levels of investment, noting that the company's share price has quadrupled since privatisation.

ECONOMIST: Railways

The dispute over the right to use the name remains unresolved, but Greek relations with its northern neighbour have been transformed as commerce has taken precedence over arcane historical arguments.

ECONOMIST: Good neighbours

This could happen if, for example, the rights of large multinationals and foreign governments were allowed to take precedence over the sorts of protections and rewards that have traditionally inspired American inventors.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Senator John McCain of Arizona agrees, saying it's important that, in his words, we stand by 200 years of legal precedence concerning classified information, because the defendant should have the right to know what evidence is being used.

NPR: Congress, White House Clash over Prosecutions