In Europe, due to wages, there are fewer opportunities to start up a business and there are fewer fast food restaurants. Most of these fast food joints are owned by the politically connected. There are literally no little people acquiring franchises to sell burgers. The US is headed that way too if wages jump to $10 or $15, and we too will see fewer fast food joints!
The only reason McDonald’s and other fast food joints are not in recession is the almighty EBT card from Uncle Sugar.