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For things like this, since the majority of lawmakers are also real estate owners, it would be a non-starter. But, even if it did happen, I feel like the food costs would just increase to compensate for the taxes, since the rental prices would certainly go up disproportionately.

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But food prices _wouldn't_ go up in the owner-operated restaurants which would then have a significant competitive edge. Likewise real estate prices should go down, higher taxes would mean less demand and owner-operators would be more motivated to buy than investors. Likewise investor dollars would be guided by taxes to more productive targets.

Investing in restaurants that own land as opposed to investing in land that restaurants use seems like it would have significantly different effects to the economy.

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