A new study claims that it's harder to make ends meet working a minimum wage job than if you are on welfare. The Cato Institute, which is a libertarian think tank, released the study which claims those on welfare make more than minimum wage workers in 35 states, Michigan included. It based this comparison on the fact that many welfare benefits are tax free. The Cato Institute claims this shows welfare benefits are too high and create a dis-incentive to work.