[quote=@Theodorable]
<Snipped quote by Skylar>

Labor = Builds things. (Buildings. Starships. Etc)

Income = Buys things. (Buildings. Starships. Etc).

They are both important, but in their own way.
[/quote]

I would like to add on and say Influence can be used for political actions like ending wars, justifying wars, enslaving populations, etc. At least from what I understand after Theo explained it to me.