Economists on the political right and left may not agree about much, but they generally believe there is a correlation between migration and economic prosperity. When people “vote with their feet,” it’s a sign they are not finding the jobs, wages and opportunities they want.

Wisconsin’s demographic challenges are dictating much of what drives its economy. Too many of the people who are being lost to Wisconsin are college-educated and earning higher incomes, which hurts the state’s ability to retain talented workers and to reinvest in itself.

Most of the top-ranked performance states in the 2016 ALEC-Laffer index are states where people are moving, with Texas, Washington, Utah, Colorado, North Carolina and Oregon being prominent examples. The reasons may have more to do with how people perceive opportunity than specific policy initiatives.

How can Wisconsin make itself more attractive to outsiders and natives alike? By building on existing assets; telling a compelling story about its people, companies and culture; and celebrating what’s right about the state – not fixating on partisan divides and what’s wrong.

By focusing on economic outputs, Wisconsin can better judge what inputs can make a difference. Keeping the best and brightest home while attracting others like them from around the country and the world is one such measure.

Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He is the former associate editor of the Wisconsin State Journal.