It is simply competition over the girl and one factor is who can take her out for the more expensive dinners. (Another being who makes her laugh more.)
Come on, that's not fair. jonah's citing two ways men try to woo women (expensive dinners and making her laugh) and using them at as analogies for ways that companies try to woo employees -- either paying them better salaries or being a more rewarding place to work.
It is simply competition over the girl and one factor is who can take her out for the more expensive dinners. (Another being who makes her laugh more.)