What I think it is, is that the high pay is enough money for them. With so much money, they do not need to turn to bribery and corruption to get more money, right?

2. What are some reasons why dictators managed to hold on to their power for so long? An article that might help in answering this question.

In this article, the dictators stay in power because they have a tight bond with people of higher control over it's people. It's like they have an underground gang of people who would protect the current dictator in power, and if he ever passes away, someone else would take over power, and rule the same way as their predecessor. There are three reasons given: 1. They have cronies that protect each other. 2. They own the military, that enforces dictatorship, and does the rulers bidding. 3. Corrupted law enforces, spies and private investigators to maintain peaceful following of rules. These three reasons show how dictators have control over a country, and ensures no internal forces are able to overturn his reign.

So essentially, dictators stay in power because they can control the citizens in the country, either by mesmerising them, or scaring them. But isn't that really how they became to power in the first place. They must have a way to have the citizens in constant fear or be consistently mesmerised, so as not to lose that power. So maybe these dictators really just control all activities, and any activity found suspicious of going against government would be immediately stopped, and people involved would be punished harshly, and publicly, to strike fear in all people. So ultimately, it's fear that keeps them in power, right?

"In China, corruption is the common link between state-owned banks doling out billions of dollars to cronies; land grabs by local government officials; and the negligence that killed 40 people in a high-speed rail crash last July."

Doling: to distribute, usually in small amounts or sparingly.

In this context, banks are distributing money to cronies (which are essentially, good or close friends). This shows that banks are giving money away, not to anyone, but to their close partners.

Haha. Thanks Dylan!

"Its government workers pad their paltry, sporadic pay by demanding bribes for everything from birth certificates to school grades."

Paltry: Small or meager.
Sporadic: Irregular.

In this context, it means that the government workers are paid very little (paltry) and they get paid irregularly (sporadic). Thus with this little pay, they accept all bribes for virtually everything and anything.