Up to 420 million people (at a conservative estimate) are trapped in chronic absolute poverty. They, and their children, will make up a large part of the 900 million people who will still be $1-a-day poor in 2015 even if the Millennium Development Goals are met. This paper is an introduction to chronic poverty, it defines it and explores its dynamics, describing who and where it is most prevelant. The paper also gives a brief account of the dircection policy must take if it is to combat chronic poverty.