Patrick Turmel (Université Laval) and David Robichaud (Université d’Ottawa) have co-authored a new book titled La fable des gagnants. Pourquoi refuse-t-on de taxer la richesse?, published by Lux Éditeur.

It will be available in bookstores in Quebec starting September 23 and in Europe starting November 6.

Launch events (in French) are scheduled in several cities:

• QUEBEC CITY | Wednesday, September 23: Festive launch at Librairie du Quartier, starting at 5:30 PM – learn more;
• TROIS-RIVIÈRES | Thursday, September 24: Discussion hosted by Félix-Antoine Désilets-Rousseau at Librairie l’Exèdre, starting at 6:00 PM.
• SHERBROOKE | Wednesday, September 30: Discussion hosted by Véronique Grenier at Librairie Appalaches, starting at 6:00 PM.
• MONTREAL | Thursday, October 1: Discussion hosted by Olivier Boisvert at Librairie Gallimard, starting at 6:00 PM.
• OTTAWA | Wednesday, October 7: Discussion hosted by Dahlia Namian at Librairie du Soleil, starting at 5:30 PM.

Summary

Whether you attribute your personal wealth to luck or the accident of birth, or instead credit your own efforts alone, determines your stance on wealth redistribution. This stems from a powerful human cognitive bias: a fondness for grand narratives—so strong that we often prioritize them over established facts.

Building on ideas first presented in La Juste Part, the authors further examine the function and rationality of taxation in modern society. Yet, they do more than simply argue for the justification of a wealth tax. Their goal is more ambitious: to systematically expose the biases that distort our perception of individual merit and success—the “winners’ fable” that steers us away from shared, legitimate aspirations for social justice. Ultimately, this book champions taxation as the cornerstone of a democratic society.

Without taxes, there is no society, no liberty, and no justice. There is no democracy.