isnt there always a bigger fish?
i'm not sure, this may only be my perception of things, but maybe the concept of being compared within a class like that might be sort of dismissing those who also do economics in other schools and are at a similar standard to you both? you both sound like very very intelligent people, but what if someone else on this forum show signs of proficiency in extended responses that might be superior to all of us? should they also come into the equation? i'm not sure, it's a little bit of a narrow minded concept. i'd accept any #1 position graciously, but it is perhaps taken better as a figure on paper, with that figure being coupled with thousands of others from economics students across the state.
it might sort of boil down to how you apply everything you learn, economics is a human science, and is open to an exchange of everyone's ideas. If you learn the theory well then that it wonderful, but perhaps applything these concepts for yourself can be a definitive factor. Sunjet could be the next Ian McFarlane...all while maybe coming third in his economics class