total periodic pension cost / net periodic pension cost / periodic pension cost

CFA Level II
#1

I’m sure this topic has come up a few times already but I cannot find a definitive answer. What is the difference between these?

According to this post: http://www.analystforum.com/forums/cfa-forums/cfa-level-ii-forum/91321052, they are the same. But that is not the case since the practice questions ask you to calculate each one.

The way I see it:

Periodic pension cost is the cost (or expense) incurred in a single period, such as depreciation expense.

Total periodic pension cost is the cumulative expenses over a number of periods, such as accumulated depreciation.

So what is net periodic pension cost? Net of what? Employer contribution?

#2

Indeed they are the same. Total periodic cost is already netted by say, actuarial gain and actual gain so you can basically say it is net periodic pension cost.