Although the numbers for those filing bankruptcy has dropped in some areas and gone flat in others, it's obvious that the economy is not recovering. Unemployment numbers have not dropped below 9% in the last three years and some experts are saying that the actual number of those unemployed is closer to 16% or 17%. It's become apparent that there is a possibility of further reasons of the drop in numbers of those filing for bankruptcy might be that people are just too broke to file bankruptcy. After someone has lost their home to foreclosure and been unemployed for longer than their 99 weeks of insurance, if they don't have any property to sell they will become destitute. If only these folks heeded the warnings and were pro active in their decision to file for bankruptcy. Sometimes trying to hang on and thinking that you're doing the right thing by continuing to pay for debts you can't afford bites you in the end....