how may the gap between the rich north and the poor south be effectively bridged?

When I hear this question, my mind suddenly jumps to "Why should it be bridged?"

1) The cost of living in the north is much higher than in the south.

2) People in the south are much more relaxed and less stressed.  In
general they don't make work as high of a priority as people in the
north do.

I guess my point is that most people in the south would rather be in
the south making less money than in the north making more money.