Tess Thorman
Senior Research Associate
Expertise: Social safety net programs, income inequality
Tess Thorman is a senior research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California, and a member of both the Safety Net and Economic Policy Center teams. Thorman’s research centers on economic well-being and opportunity in California, with particular attention to the roles of social safety net programs and earnings. Recent work has examined food assistance and state tax credits for low-income families, characteristics of California’s workforce, and trends in income inequality in California. Thorman holds an MPP from the University of Southern California and a BA with majors in English and musical studies from Oberlin College.
What California’s Next Governor Needs to Know about the Social Safety Net
California’s Nutrition Safety Net
