Final answer:
The overall trend of real GDP per capita is increasing over time, with significant growth observed in Japan, Brazil, and East Asian countries in the mid to late twentieth century, and more recent rapid growth in China and India.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the provided data that describes the growth in real GDP per capita over time in various countries, the overall trend of the series would be that real GDP per capita is increasing over time. Starting from the mid-twentieth century, countries like Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, China, and India have all experienced significant growth rates.
Examples include Japan's average annual growth rate of real GDP per capita of 11% during the 1960s and 1970s, Brazil's growth at an annual rate of 11.1% from 1968 to 1973, and more recent rapid growth in China with 9% per year from 1984 into the 2000s, and in India with rates climbing toward 7% to 8% per year in the 2000s.
This growth contrasts with the more modest growth rates observed in the United States, which experienced just 1% annual growth during its weakest years, and up to 3% per year during strong economic times in the late 1990s and into the 2000s.
The disparities in growth rates illustrate that while some regions have experienced relatively stable or modest GDP per capita growth, several developing economies have seen their GDP per capita surge ahead over time, indicating an overall upward trend in economic growth across the globe.