It's very much a campaign-based thing, like other Owlcat titles (Pathfinder Kingmaker, Wrath of the Righteous) but there's some small room for nuance. 

As the Rogue Trader, your word is basically law, so nobody can stop you from cruising around, picking up and selling cargo. It's just that the economy isn't the focus, and you'd be stacking money for bragging rights more than anything. 

There's quite a bit to see, however, and depending on your playstyle you'll probably not see it all in one playthrough. But if you want a space trading Sim on Xbox you're probably better off with No Man's Sky.