To assess the contribution of “knowledge economy” to the formation of economic growth rate in various countries, the author identifies two aggregated sectors: the “knowledge economy”, which includes certain types of activities related to the reproduction, replication and transfer of knowledge and the economy of other types of business activities for which these functions are not decisive. The use of structural analysis within the framework of this problem statement makes it possible to obtain a structural formula for assessing the contribution of each aggregated sector to the formation of the growth rate of gross value added (GDP). The research reveals that the share of “knowledge economy” in Russia and its contribution to the formation of economic growth rate remains rather low, compared with other countries under consideration. This said, the formation of a new growth model for Russian economy should comprise the measures ensuring the expansion of the "knowledge economy” capabilities and increasing its role in the development of the economy.