A Bertram Chander's "The Subtracter" aka "The Minus Factor" (novelette, politics, free): Someone has taken Asimov's psychohistory to heart

In the political heart of the Federation, the human galactic empire, a mathematician is in an influential position. Because he's supposed to have worked out a mathematically predictable way of determining the future, & of changing it by influencing significant factors shaping it.

This the story of one of his influencing operations that didn't quite work out as expected...

Fact sheet.

First published: 1969. Where?
Rating: B.
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This story is part of author's John Grimes' series.
Related: Stories of A Bertram Chandler.