Yes, it has. It was actually successfully tried here in Canada in 2000 and 2001 through a pilot project in Toronto. As for how it works is, it's a smart use of money.
Frequently, refugee claimants are refused who actually thought they were refugees. They're not all phony claimants. They realize they're not, and they're actually prepared to accept the return.
In the pilot project in Toronto, there was a 65% uptake in acceptance of the ones who were offered it. It's actually fabulous. It's much better than any removal process that takes place now. It makes sense.
The one warning is on this notion that the $2,000 goes to some type of agency over there to dole out. Please don't muck that up with the Department of Immigration. Don't turn it into another bureaucratic boondoggle. You need to get the money to them quickly so that it actually works.