The “McDonald's theory”

[BklynBoy]

Was watching a movie "The recruit" and one guy made this comment..

no two countries with McDonald's in them will ever go to war.

so looked it up and seems basically true... it makes sense. Once you have a middle class big enough to support hamburger franchises, the theory runs, war is a thing of the past

[fax]

They are also one of the largest real estate owners in the world because they always buy the land their restaurants are on.

It is probably one of the reasons why they don’t open in Cambodia: foreigners can’t own land. It’s also against the business interests of certain families to let them in to compete.

[BklynBoy]

They are also one of the largest real estate owners in the world because they always buy the land their restaurants are on.

It is probably one of the reasons why they don’t open in Cambodia: foreigners can’t own land. It’s also against the business interests of certain families to let them in to compete.

I wasn't aware of that but makes sense -- own the land .. wonder if holds true for Starbucks.. lol

[SternAAlbifrons]

Maybe it is because the home of Maccas is only prepared to go to war with countries not developed enough to have a large middle class?

Or maybe because countries that have not signed up to America's dietary habits are obviously the ones most in need of being bombed back into the stone age??

But it is self evidently not because eating Big Macs makes you a sensible peace-loving nation.
Is it?

[Ghostwriter]

They are in Pakistan and Brunei, China and Russia, Saudi Arabia and more middle east hard line muslim countries....Not Iran though...
Not too sure they can always own the land, but more probably long leases in some countries, like Indonesia...

[BigDee]

Not sure the land ownership comment is actualy true.
i wouldnt think the Donalds stores in major shopping malls around the world would own the floor space.

[phuketrichard]

They are also one of the largest real estate owners in the world because they always buy the land their restaurants are on.

It is probably one of the reasons why they don’t open in Cambodia: foreigners can’t own land. It’s also against the business interests of certain families to let them in to compete.

Hundreds of MD in Thailand, most likely 100% thai owned
and Singapore has quite a few as well
am sure there is another reason.

[hanno]

India and Pakistan have Mickey D's and are at war in Kashmir.

[BR549]

There is a movie called The FoMcDonalds.ha tarring Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc.
It tells the story of the rise of a failing salesman of milk shake machines who gets an order for 8 machines from 2 brothers who have a hamburger joint in California..the McDonalds..He drives about 2,000km to see who could possibly need 8 of his units
He gets them to share their fast food in a paper sack system.
He makes a deal to sell franchises...starts opening them up all over paying the McDonalds a piece of the revenue.
He does not feel he is making the money he deserves and wants a new contract.
Along the way he has a colleague tell him the real money is in owning the land the joints are built on. He buys the sites all across the country and sells franchises on them..finding perfect locations aroind the USA.
He ends up screwing the McDonalds brothers and he takes over the empire and they can't even call their original restaurant McDonalds anymore.
He is dead
So, who knows what the corporation is doing now?
But, the comment about owning the land is how Rau Kroc became a wealthy man.
Great movie to watch on plane to kill a few hours.
I always thought Ray Kroc was some California gut who started with 1 and built it ..
He never cooked a burger...it was The McDonalds brothers genius and research he suckered them out of.
Similar to KFC. Which atands for Kentucky Fried Chicken...The Colonel had a chicken shack..sold the recipe and name and was just a paid figurehead for a big corporation.

[BR549]

The Founder...starring Michael Keaton.2016..
Sorry..edit snafu