The help implies that the better economy you have, the more powerful your race is. Understandable because it means you own more spaces and have more planets etc which mean shipyards. But... As I have noticed, my team does act on its own without me as well, meaning they capture spaces too, just a little slower than I do. Does my team attack more often and more powerfully if my economy is good? It would only make sense if this were the case, because of the resources at my race's disposle.
Or does my race's overall economy only help my ranking and changes game play none?