From what I understand, the government of Singapore keeps corruption low just by paying their officials a lot. The president makes about $3 million.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Singapore

It may just be an anecdote but it seems like a reasonable system to me.

EDIT: had the wrong dollar amount.

Some countries value what you can't buy. Peerage works well in the UK, and is rather cheap. In France, the possibility to spend a career working in central historical buildings makes the best minds cram for decades.