15. The following information is related to the defined-benefit pension plan of a company for the current year: Beginning PBO $75,000 Service cost 38,000 Interest cost 5,000 Benefits paid to retirees 9,000 Ending PBO 89,000 Expected return on plan assets 10,000 Cash contributions to the pension plan 17,000 Assuming no other relevant data exist, what is the pension expense for the year?

a. $33,000 b. $37,000 c. $43,000 d. $50,000