As robbery is an offense committed with the intention of obtaining gains through robbing people of money or articles, mostly money, it inevitably has something to do with social background factors such as the increase in the number of unemployed persons as well as the increase in persons suffering financial failure or in need of money. Fig. 5-3-4-2 , Fig. 5-3-4-3 , and Fig. 5-3-4-4 show the trend of the unemployment rate, the trends in the number of petitions for bankruptcy newly received, and the trends in the number of inquires for consultation on multiple debts, respectively. These rate and numbers have been rising sharply since 1996, indicating the increase in the number of unemployed persons or persons in need of money.
  Only a small part of unemployed persons or persons in need of money go as far as to commit offenses and therefore it is not appropriate to regard these social background factors as immediate causes of offenses. However, it is difficult to deny that these background factors have some influence on people who commit offenses for gain.

Fig. 5-3-4-2 Trend of the unemployment rate (1973-2002)

Fig. 5-3-4-3 Trends in the number of petitions for bankruptcy newly received by district courts (1973-2002)

Fig. 5-3-4-4 Trends in the number of inquires for consultation on multiple debts (FY1989-FY2002)