Deborah Thorne is professor of sociology at University of Idaho and co-principal investigator on the nationally recognized Consumer Bankruptcy Project. For the past two decades, economic inequality generally, and debt and consumer bankruptcy specifically, have been at the core of her research agenda. As such, she has authored articles and book chapters on elder bankruptcy, medical debt and bankruptcy, effects of severe debt on couples’ relationships, stigma associated with bankruptcy, financial health following bankruptcy, social mobility, gender, and financial education. As a recognized expert on the subject of consumer bankruptcy, Professor Thorne has been interviewed by numerous media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Salon Magazine, USA Today, National Public Radio, CNN, and ABC World News.

• Consumer Bankruptcy
• Stratification and Inequality
• Negative Wealth (Debt)
• Family
• Gender
• Health

Journal Articles

• Pamela Foohey, Robert Lawless, Deborah Thorne. Forthcoming. “Portraits of Bankruptcy Filers.” Georgia Law Review.
• Deborah Thorne, Pamela Foohey, Robert Lawless, and Katherine Porter. 2019. “Graying of U.S. Bankruptcy: Fallout from Life in a Risk Society.” Sociological Inquiry. https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12323.
• Pamela Foohey, Robert Lawless, Katherine Porter, and Deborah Thorne. 2018. “Life in the Sweatbox.” Notre Dame Law Review 94(1): 219-262.
• Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren, and Teresa Sullivan. 2009. “The Increasing Vulnerability of Older Americans: Evidence from the Bankruptcy Court.” Harvard Law & Policy Review 3 (1): 87-101.
• David U. Himmelstein, Elizabeth Warren, Deborah Thorne, and Steffie Woolhandler. 2005. “Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy.” Health Affairs: The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere, Web Exclusive: February 2; w5-63 – w5-75. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/hlthaff.w5.63v1.

Book Chapters

• Deborah Thorne. 2011. “Women’s Work, Women’s Worry? Debt Management in Financially Distressed Families.” In Katherine Porter (ed.), Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class. Pp. 136-153. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
• Elizabeth Warren and Deborah Thorne. 2011. “A Vulnerable Middle Class: Bankruptcy and Class Status.” In Katherine Porter (ed.), Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class. Pp. 25-39. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
• Deborah Thorne and Katherine Porter. 2011. “Expectations and Experiences: Financial Education of Bankruptcy Debtors.” In Doug J. Lamdin (ed.), Consumer Knowledge and Financial Decisions: Lifespan Perspectives. Pp. 197-216. New York: Springer.

Other Publications

• Sydney Freeman, Jr., and Deborah Thorne. 2021. “A Faculty Evaluation Manifesto to Counteract Bias.” Academe Blog: The blog of Academe magazine. July 1. https://academeblog.org/2021/07/01/a-faculty-evaluation-manifesto-to-counteract-bias/
• Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren, and Teresa Sullivan. 2008 . “Generations of Struggle.” Research report for American Association of Retired Persons. Available at: http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/consume/2008_11_debt.pdf

• Teaching Excellence Award, University of Idaho
• Athens (Ohio) Best Professor, Athens News, Athens, Ohio
• University Professor, Ohio University (university-wide teaching award)
• Eric Wagner Endowed Teaching Professor, Ohio University
• Outstanding University College Student Advocate, Ohio University
• University Professor, Ohio University (university-wide teaching award)
• Post-doctoral Fellow and Project Director, Consumer Bankruptcy Project, Harvard University