Alongside the formal control it exerted over its own colonies, Britain's dominant position in world trade meant that it effectively controlled the economies of many nominally independent countries, such as China, Argentina and Siam, which has been generally characterized as "informal empire".
Udover den formelle kontrol Storbritannien havde over sine egne kolonier betød den britiske dominerende stilling i verdenshandelen, at man i praksis havde kontrol over økonomien i mange nominelt uafhængige lande, såsom Kina, Argentina og Siam, som af nogle historikere omtales som "det uformelle imperium".