Final answer:
Stage 3 of the DTM is characterized by declines in birth rates due to improvements in contraception, women's rights, and a transition to an industrialized economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) characterized by improvements in contraception, women's rights, and a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy, causing birth rates to drop, is Stage 3. During this stage, a society becomes thoroughly industrialized, and changes such as better education, particularly for women, empower individuals to exercise more control over reproduction. Access to and use of contraception increase while society continues to urbanize, leading to a decline in birth rates. Additionally, as the economy grows and transforms, women tend to enter the workforce in greater numbers, further influencing family planning decisions and reducing the birth rate.