This paper models the gender inequality in literacy status, and its effects on households economic well-being in Burkina Faso using A semi-parametric bi-variate sample selection modeling approach. This approach compared to the classic Heckman two-step estimator is methodologically innovative because it deals simultaneously with non-random sample selection using conventional systems of two equations, non-linear covariates' effects using spline approach, and the non-normal bivariate distribution using copula functions.

Using data from the National Survey on Households Living Conditions in Burkina Faso, the graphical results by the Lorenz curves combined with the numerical Atkinson and Gini coefficients suggest that inequality in overall per-capita consumption spending (Economic well-being) among households headed by literates is higher than that of their illiterate counterparts for 2009 and 2014. However, independently of the head of household's literacy status, the level of inequality in total economic well-being decreased from 2009 to 2014. The analysis of poverty by literacy status using the poverty indices of Watts, Sen, Foster (alpha=1) suggests that poverty among households headed by literates is lower than that of their illiterates counterparts for both years. Without distinction of literacy status however, overall poverty decreased nationally between 2009 and 2014.

The semi-parametric bivariate results do support the existence of gender inequality in literacy status, with women heads of households having relatively less chances of having a literate status than their men counterparts. The results also show that although this gender inequality in literacy status does not translate into inequalities in non-food wellness, it does however for food-wellness with female headed households having 38.9% less per-capita food consumption spending than their men counterparts. Combining both food and non-food consumption spending, total economic well-being seems to also exhibit gender inequality as female headed households now have relatively 26.7% less combined per-capita consumption spending.