Final answer:
In 2017, the United States had a higher per capita income than Brazil. Per capita income is an economic indicator that reflects the average income of a country's residents. Economic disparities exist worldwide, with high-income countries like the US having significantly higher per capita incomes than middle-income countries like Brazil.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the per capita income (on a purchasing power parity basis) between the United States and Brazil in 2017, the United States had a higher per capita income. Per capita income is often used as an indicator of the average income of a country's residents and is a widely-used economic measure to gauge the prosperity of a country. In high-income countries, such as the United States, economic growth is questioned in terms of whether it can continue to elevate the standard of living as significantly as in the past century.
Contrastingly, middle-income countries like Brazil aim to bridge the gap with higher-income countries but face challenges in elevating their position in the global per capita income hierarchy. As of the data from 2008, Brazil's per capita GDP was considered mid-tier, ranging between $6,000-12,600. While this figure would likely have increased by 2017, it still wouldn't surpass that of the United States, which has one of the world's highest GDPs. Thus, in 2017, the United States had a higher per capita income than Brazil.
These disparities in per capita income across different parts of the world reflect the varied levels of economic development and the distinct challenges nations face, from nurturing growth to uplifting populations from poverty and improving overall human welfare.