Final answer:
Globalization is the process most responsible for the increased demand for beef exports from Brazil, which leads to deforestation and improves the standard of living for ranchers. It is driven by international demand and economic policies that encourage the conversion of the Amazon rainforest into agricultural land, particularly for cattle ranching, which is a major cause of tropical deforestation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The changes in economic and environmental conditions in the Amazon region of Brazil, such as increased deforestation and a higher standard of living for ranchers, can be attributed to Globalization. This phenomenon has connected international markets and consumers to the productions of the Amazon region, intensifying the demand for beef exports. Consequently, cattle ranching has become more profitable, spurring significant environmental changes in the Amazon. Tax cuts and incentives provided by the Brazilian government and international policies encouraged the conversion of the rainforest into pasture land, thus driving the deforestation process. Moreover, globalized financial markets and the commodity boom have made large-scale agricultural operations such as cattle ranching and soy farming by corporations and wealthy landowners the principal direct cause of tropical deforestation.