The correct answer is: A. indifference curve analysis.
Cardinal utility measurement is a way of measuring the satisfaction or utility that a consumer gets from consuming goods and services. It is required in indifference curve analysis because indifference curves are used to represent the consumer’s preferences. Indifference curves show all the combinations of goods and services that a consumer is indifferent between, meaning that the consumer would be equally satisfied with any of the combinations on the curve.
The other options are incorrect because they do not require cardinal utility measurement. Utility theory is the study of how consumers make decisions about what to consume. It does not require cardinal utility measurement, because it can be used to explain consumer behavior even if we do not know how much utility a consumer gets from each good or service. Revealed preference theory is a theory that uses a consumer’s choices to infer their preferences. It does not require cardinal utility measurement, because it can be used to infer preferences even if we do not know how much utility a consumer gets from each good or service. Consumption analysis is the study of how consumers spend their income on goods and services. It does not require cardinal utility measurement, because it can be used to explain consumer behavior even if we do not know how much utility a consumer gets from each good or service.