We study symmetry breaking effects in local D-brane models that arise as a
result of compactification, taking models constructed on C^3/Z_3 as prototype.
Zero-modes of the Lichnerowicz operator in cone-like geometries have a power
law behaviour; thus the leading symmetry breaking effects are captured by the
modes with the lowest scaling dimension which transform non-trivially under the
isometry group. Combining this with the fact that global symmetries in local
models are gauged upon compactification we determine the strength and form of
the leading operators responsible for the symmetry breaking. We find a
hierarchical separation in the size of symmetry breaking parameters.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure; v2 typos removed; v3 JHEP versio