mastercard incorporated notes to consolidated financial statements 2014 ( continued ) ( in thousands , except percent and per share data ) the following table summarizes expected benefit payments through 2018 including those payments expected to be paid from the company 2019s general assets .since the majority of the benefit payments are made in the form of lump-sum distributions , actual benefit payments may differ from expected benefits payments. .
[['2009', '$ 19766'], ['2010', '18182'], ['2011', '25518'], ['2012', '21029'], ['2013', '24578'], ['2014 2013 2018', '118709']]
substantially all of the company 2019s u.s .employees are eligible to participate in a defined contribution savings plan ( the 201csavings plan 201d ) sponsored by the company .the savings plan allows employees to contribute a portion of their base compensation on a pre-tax and after-tax basis in accordance with specified guidelines .the company matches a percentage of employees 2019 contributions up to certain limits .in 2007 and prior years , the company could also contribute to the savings plan a discretionary profit sharing component linked to company performance during the prior year .beginning in 2008 , the discretionary profit sharing amount related to 2007 company performance was paid directly to employees as a short-term cash incentive bonus rather than as a contribution to the savings plan .in addition , the company has several defined contribution plans outside of the united states .the company 2019s contribution expense related to all of its defined contribution plans was $ 35341 , $ 26996 and $ 43594 for 2008 , 2007 and 2006 , respectively .the company had a value appreciation program ( 201cvap 201d ) , which was an incentive compensation plan established in 1995 .annual awards were granted to vap participants from 1995 through 1998 , which entitled participants to the net appreciation on a portfolio of securities of members of mastercard international .in 1999 , the vap was replaced by an executive incentive plan ( 201ceip 201d ) and the senior executive incentive plan ( 201cseip 201d ) ( together the 201ceip plans 201d ) ( see note 16 ( share based payments and other benefits ) ) .contributions to the vap have been discontinued , all plan assets have been disbursed and no vap liability remained as of december 31 , 2008 .the company 2019s liability related to the vap at december 31 , 2007 was $ 986 .the expense ( benefit ) was $ ( 6 ) , $ ( 267 ) and $ 3406 for the years ended december 31 , 2008 , 2007 and 2006 , respectively .note 12 .postemployment and postretirement benefits the company maintains a postretirement plan ( the 201cpostretirement plan 201d ) providing health coverage and life insurance benefits for substantially all of its u.s .employees and retirees hired before july 1 , 2007 .the company amended the life insurance benefits under the postretirement plan effective january 1 , 2007 .the impact , net of taxes , of this amendment was an increase of $ 1715 to accumulated other comprehensive income in 2007. .

Question: considering the years 2007-2008 , what was the increase observed in the expense related to all of the defined contribution plans?
Answer: 31%
Explanation: it is the value of the expense related to all of the defined contribution plans in 2008 divided by the 2007's , then subtracted 1 and turned into a percentage .